Access or Exposure? Fact-Checking Infection Prevention Myths About Service Dogs

Session Description: Healthcare facilities are encountering more service dogs than ever, not only accompanying patients and visitors but also supporting healthcare workers through accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, most infection preventionists find themselves unprepared when safety, policy, and disability rights seem to conflict. What happens when the infection prevention plan, legal access rules, and practical realities don’t match?

This highly interactive session presents a series of controversial real-world statements, each drawn from questions or situations faced by infection prevention or service dog teams. The format is designed to provoke thoughtful discussion about how to balance compliance, equity, and safety in clinical settings.

Can a hospital restrict access for a service dog that is fed a raw food diet? Should infection prevention incidents involving service dogs be tracked like other occupational or environmental risks? Are service dog handlers expected to bring their own cleaning supplies? Should lab employees be discouraged from bringing service dogs due to exposure risks to the animal? Does patient safety override an employee’s right to bring a service dog in high-risk units? These scenarios and more will be unpacked through clinical context and infection prevention evidence, with facilitators guiding participants through policy pitfalls, ethical tensions, and underrecognized risks.

In an era where safety, access, and inclusion intersect, infection preventionists must be ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and compliance. Attendees will leave with practical tools to evaluate service dog-related risks and navigate complex situations.

Rachel Ronne

Employee Epidemiology Coordinator, Medical University of South Carolina

Rachel Ronne, MPH, is the employee epidemiology coordinator at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Specializing in the intersection between infection prevention and employee health, Rachel is experienced in managing and mitigating epidemiologically significant infections among over 35,000 MUSC members including world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates, residents, students and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care at over 950 care locations. With a specific passion for integrating innovative technology and process improvement, Rachel is dedicated to advancing workplace health and safety and sharing knowledge with the broader infection prevention community.

Scott Bernshausen

MUSC Midlands IP Director, The Medical University of South Carolina

Amy Johnson

Infection Preventionist, HSHS Wisconsin Division

Amy Johnson, BSN, RN, CIC, is an Infection Preventionist with the HSHS Wisconsin Division in Green Bay, WI. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Amy’s nursing background spans Intermediate/ICU Care, Post‑Anesthesia Care, Gastroenterology, and Clinical Documentation. Amy has been an active leader within the Northeastern Wisconsin (NEW) APIC chapter, serving in both treasurer and president roles. She has also been a dedicated member of the Wisconsin State APIC Seminar Planning Committee for the past several years, contributing to statewide education, collaboration, and professional development.