Food Service Supply Chain Issues Prompt Changes

Management team decided to create secondary menus to ensure they had backup plan

By Dan Hounsell


For more than a year, healthcare food service programs have grappled with how best to serve the needs of patients and staff amid the more-than-challenging circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cases, the answer has been to use a mix of strategies and demonstrate a willingness to evolve.

Early in the pandemic, it became clear to Neal Lavender, executive director of food and nutrition at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas, that his team would need to concentrate on two things in order to mitigate disruption in food service: tight systems and steady communication, according to Food Management.

The public and community hospital’s 105 foodservice workers create and serve more than 19,000 meals on average across the four-acre campus every week. They plan, prepare and serve all food options for their retail cafeteria and coffee kiosk and provide all meals for patients in the 587-bed facility.

When they noticed that supply chains were being interrupted across the country, the management team decided to create secondary menus to ensure they had backup plans; they knew certain ingredients, or maybe even whole orders, might not arrive on time. They also focused on boosting their inventory.



April 21, 2021


Topic Area: Food Service


Recent Posts

Creating an Inclusive Space for Everyone Through Universal Design

Designers are using their compassion to create inclusive spaces for all patients.


Lehigh Valley Health Network and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Announce Affiliation Agreement

The affiliation is to provide optimal care for children in the region.


Four Healthcare Construction Best Practices

Strategies that prove effective can boost efficiency, lower costs and promote long-term success.


Piedmont Henry Hospital to Expand with New Patient Tower

The project is expected to start in early 2024.


Bill Proposed to Make Assaulting Healthcare Workers a Federal Crime

Efforts to reduce workplace violence in healthcare settings are coming from both health organizations and Capitol Hill.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.