Service Animals Guidelines

The health system is committed to patient- and family-centered care and to ensuring a safe environment for you, your service animal, other patients and visitors, and our staff. Following the guidance below ensures that your service animal can be safely present for as much of your care as possible.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable law: Service animals may accompany individuals with disabilities in all areas of The University of Kansas Health System where members of the public or patients are normally allowed, except in areas where the presence of service animals fundamentally alters the nature of services provided by the health system.

• A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The work or tasks the dog has been trained to perform must be directly related to the person's disability. The ADA does not consider other types of animals (other species*, pets, emotional support/comfort animals, therapy animals or companion animals) to be service animals.
• Service animals may not be allowed in some areas of the health system, either because treatments used in these areas may endanger service animals or because the presence of service animals in these areas fundamentally alters the nature of services provided by the health system. In these situations, patients will be reunited with their service animals as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Areas where service animals may not be allowed include those that:
• Require cleaner (aseptic or sterile) environments because of increased risk for infection, such as surgical and procedural areas, burn units and units for immunocompromised patients (patients with weak immune systems)
• Use radiation/radioactive materials, or strong magnets (imaging areas, etc.)
• Use chemotherapy or other hazardous medications/substances
• Are other patients’ rooms

Learn more about the ADA’s position.

*There is a separate provision for miniature horses.

• Remain responsible for service animals at all times. Service animals cannot be left unattended and staff cannot supervise or otherwise care for them. If patients are unable to supervise or care for their service animals, patients must identify others to do so on their behalf.
• Take immediate action to effectively regain control of service animals if they become disruptive.
• Provide service animals with food, water, opportunities for toileting, and other necessary care.
• Remain responsible for any damage done by service animals (e.g., personal injuries or damage to the premises).
• Immediately report injuries (injuries to service animals or injuries caused by service animals) to staff.
• Arrange for veterinary care if service animals become sick or injured while on health system premises.

• Must remain under control of owners/handlers. Must not become disruptive.
• Must remain harnessed, leashed or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or the person's disability prevents use of these devices. In that case, the person must use other effective means to maintain control of the animal, such as voice or signal.
• Must remain in approved areas only.
• Must be housebroken and well-groomed.
• Must not drink from public water sources, such as water fountains, sinks and toilets.
• Must not come into contact with patients’ nonintact skin, such as surgical sites, drain/tube sites or other wounds.

• Service animals are welcome in waiting areas and may remain there throughout surgeries/procedures. After recovering from surgeries/procedures, patients will be reunited with service animals as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Throughout surgeries/procedures, patients are unable to supervise or care for their service animals. Patients must designate others to do so on their behalf until they have recovered from the surgery/procedure and can safely resume care of their service animals.

Staff may require that a service animal be removed from the premises immediately for the following reasons.

• The service animal becomes disruptive and the owner/handler does not take immediate action to effectively regain control.
• Urgent or emergent situations.
• The service animal’s presence fundamentally alters the nature of services provided by the health system.
• The service animal causes a direct threat to others.
• Other legitimate safety concerns.

For questions or concerns about service animals at The University of Kansas Health System, contact Patient Relations at 913-588-1290 or by email.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for all present in our spaces.