Alameda Health System’s Park Bridge Rehabilitation and Wellness was in the news yesterday for a story about Scarlett and Rizzo, the pair of medical detection dogs working their tails off at AHS to identify COVID-19. Scarlett and Rizzo have undergone rigorous training and can test up to 300 people in a half hour with an average accuracy detection rate of 94%.

A medical detection dog at Alameda Health SystemThe canine duo came to AHS through a partnership with Early Alert Canines (EAC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). EAC trains and deploys COVID-19 detection dogs to skilled nursing facilities such as Park Bridge and Bay Area schools.

“Scarlett and Rizzo offer a fast and more comfortable way for medically vulnerable residents like ours to test for COVID-19. They are just two examples of our efforts to provide compassionate and patient-centered care,” said Richard Espinoza, chief administrative officer of post-acute services at Alameda Health System. “It’s wonderful to collaborate with community organizations to keep our congregate settings safe in unique, interesting and fun ways.”

Watch the news story here.

Park Bridge Rehabilitation and Wellness has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2024 list of America’s Best Nursing Homes. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

AHS has four skilled nursing facilities that provide long-term or temporary residence for patients undergoing medically necessary rehabilitation treatment. All four facilities –South Shore Rehabilitation and Wellness, Park Bridge Rehabilitation and Wellness, Alameda Hospital Sub-Acute Unit, and Fairmont Rehabilitation and Wellness – serve the safety-net communities in Alameda County.