Allina Health EMS welcomes therapy dog to the Communication Center team

ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 25, 2023) — Don’t be surprised if you walk into the Allina Health Emergency Medical Services Communications Center in St. Paul and find a friendly Golden Retriever wandering around. Bohdi, a five year-old Golden Retriever, is now the third therapy dog as part of the Allina Health EMS team. He started work in the Alina Health EMS Communications Center in January.

Evie, a four year-old Goldendoodle, has been part of the Allina Health EMS South Metro base team in Savage since March, 2019, and Westin, a two year-old Bernedoodle, has been with the Wright County base team in Buffalo since June 2021.

Bohdi, is owned and handled by Hayley Czyson, an Allina Health EMS quality assurance and training specialist. She says from the time that she got Bohdi as a pup she always imagined him as a therapy dog of some sort, possibly visiting hospital patients. It wasn’t until much later when Hayley was working as an Allina Health dispatcher that she realized he had the right personality to fit in in the communications center.

“We started Bohdi’s training when he was two,” said Hayley. “COVID really slowed things down, but he finished his therapy dog training last year and passed his Therapy Dog Exam on the first try in January this year. Then we were ready to introduce him to the dispatch team.”

Now, Bodhi is a regular in the dispatch center two or three times every week. For dispatchers dealing with the emotions and stress of their work, having Bohdi come up to visit is a welcomed relief.

“Everybody loves Bohdi and he loves everyone in the center. When he comes in each day he makes it a point to visit everyone and that is always so nice to see,” said Hayley.

Allina Health is a nonprofit health care system serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin, dedicated to preventing and treating illness and improving the health of individuals, families and communities. Through a network of more than 90 clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 13 retail pharmacies, specialty care centers, home care and emergency medical transportation, Allina Health provides high-quality care from birth through end-of-life. 

Allina Health Institutes are at the forefront of the mission, which offer nationally recognized experts and advanced care in key specialties: 

• Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute – A leader in cardiovascular innovation, research and care delivery through clinical trials, publications and training 4,000+ providers annually, it is consistently rated ‘High Performing’ by U.S. News & World Report. 
• Allina Health Cancer Institute – Providing comprehensive, personalized and innovative oncology care across the full cancer journey, delivered at 18 locations—including its three largest hospitals, which U.S. News & World Report consistently rates “High Performing” in multiple oncology specialties. 
• Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute – Delivering advanced neurologic and spine care through Givens Brain Tumor Program, three nationally accredited stroke centers and an elite Adult Neurology Residency Program, while earning recognition from Becker’s, Newsweek & U.S. News & World Report.

Together, these institutes exemplify Allina Health’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.