The security team at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center is about to expand by two four-legged security officers.

The Fort Dodge hospital received a $28,600 grant from the Trinity Foundation to purchase a German shepherd and a Dutch shepherd, as well as supplies and training.

The K-9s, named Shadow and Maple, will be assigned to Public Safety Supervisor Mark Gargano and Public Safety Officer Austin Scott.

Kari Krueger, the hospital’s manager of public safety and communications, said the idea for the K-9 program is something the hospital has been considering for the past seven to eight years.

That was when some of the hospital’s emergency room nurses attended a National Emergency Nurses Association meeting.

“A couple hospitals did a presentation there on their K-9 programs,” Krueger said.

After years of research into the program, Kruger said it was decided to adopt the use of K-9s at Trinity.

“Ninety percent of their day is just walking with the public safety officer, to do the rounds and customer service interactions,” she said. “They’re also available to just be a physical presence and extender of our security services if they’re needed.”

The K-9s were purchased through North Iowa K-9, a police-dog training business owned by Fort Dodge Police Officer Paul Samuelson.

Krueger said she expects it’ll be between six to eight weeks for the dogs to be trained with all their commands.

“We’re hoping to have them certified at the national level within about six months after they complete their training,” she said.

Hospital staff are already anticipating the arrival of the K-9s.

“We’ve had discussions about petting and feeding and appropriate times,” she said. “We want to make them understand they are working dogs, but they can also have a lot of positive interactions as well.”

Krueger said she doesn’t anticipate any problems, but it’s important to teach safety procedures.

She added that it’s believed that Trinity’s K-9 unit is the first hospital-based K-9 unit in the state.

Gargano said the addition of the K-9s will greatly improve security at the hospital.

“I think it helps to reassure a lot of people that they’re in a safe environment,” Gargano said. “We like to think of it as another tool in our tool box.”

In a statement, Mike Dewerff, president and chief executive officer of UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge, also touted the improved security.

“The safety of our patients, visitors, volunteers and staff is one of our top priorities,” Dewerff said. “We find it extremely important to take all the necessary precautions to make sure we create a safe and secure environment for everyone who walks through our doors. That sense of safety and security allows us to focus 100 percent on providing quality care to our patients.”