" T hey help w it h t he overa l l a n x iet y a nd
s t res s of bei n g here, for bot h pat ient s a nd
t he sta f f," says Dr. Pa rks, who ow ns a l l four
of t he dogs a nd refers t o t hem a s h i s pa ck .
" They have a si x th sense of who needs a lit tle
ex tra at tention. They may pa ss a room a nd do
a double-ta ke a nd just go in a nd sit dow n nex t
to the person. A f ter the person pets them a nd
loves on them awhi le, they get up a nd go."
T he dogs, i n a sen se, a re prov id i n g some
natura l medicine. Research has shown interac-
tion with dogs ca n reduce high blood pressure
a nd a n xiet y a nd even insti l l a bit of optimism
a nd tr ust t hrough boosting t he hormones of
ox y toci n a nd dopa m i ne a nd decrea si ng t he
stress hormone cor tisol. n
Meosha Tyler, PA-C
Zachary Castor, PA-C
Kim Clothier, PA-C
George Fluter, MD Jon Parks, MD
Rita Simpson, PA-C
Founder Jon Parks, MD, with his primary therapy dogs, who have become
patient favorites. The therapy dogs help ease patient anxiety and stress.
To refer patients
to Advanced Pain
Medicine Associates,
call 316-942-4519,
option 4. The practice
is located at 3715 N.
Oliver in Wichita,
Kansas. More infor-
mation is available at
advancedpain.net
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