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HCA Healthcare Heroes – Dr. Cynthia Chandler Promotes Healing with Paws 4 Patients

Boy laying in hospital bed is greeted by cocker spaniel and nurse

A trip to the hospital can be a stressful time for some patients, families and visitors. Luckily, Dr. Cynthia Chandler, a volunteer at our Medical Center of Lewisville, has the cure – a four-legged, furry and freckled face Cocker Spaniel named Jesse.

Dr. Chandler’s passion for animal assisted therapy led her and Jesse to our Lewisville facility in the fall of 2013. Realizing the healing potential of animals, she helped start the Paws 4 Patients program and has touched the lives of 316 patients, nearly 400 hospital visitors and approxmately 881 staff members in just two years.

The health benefits of bonding with “man’s best friend” are undeniable. Dr. Chandler and Jesse have brought smiles and comfort, laughter and love, healing and nurturance to many within our hospital doors.

We’re grateful for their dedication to our patients and proud to call them HCA Healthcare Heroes. Take a look at their story.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, is comprised of 183 hospitals and more than 2,300 sites of care, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. Our more than 283,000 colleagues are connected by a single purpose — to give patients healthier tomorrows.

As an enterprise, we recognize the significant responsibility we have as a leading healthcare provider within each of the communities we serve, as well as the opportunity we have to improve the lives of the patients for whom we are entrusted to care. Through the compassion, knowledge and skill of our caregivers, and our ability to leverage our scale and innovative capabilities, HCA Healthcare is in a unique position to play a leading role in the transformation of care.

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