Mission Health Systems in Asheville, N.C., is working to make green Jell-O a thing of the past, despite the fact that budgets are tight, according to an article on the Citizen-Times website.

Providing food that increases patient satisfaction is a quality indicator for any health system, Jonathan Bailey, vice president of operations for Mission Health Systems, said.

The most recent Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey scores indicate that 83 percent of patients surveyed would recommend Mission, 12 percent over the national average and 13 percent over the state average.

Food has a bearing on how the patient responds to treatment, according to the article.

"Food is a driver of a person's emotional response, and part of their healing response," Bailey said in the article. "If you're just providing green Jell-O, you're going to get a green Jell-O healing response."

Mission is working to incorporate more organic, sustainable and local foods and banish processed foods from each patient tray. It also employs a clinical nutrition manager and 17 food and nutrition department dietitians to ensure every patient meal fits 40 specific nutrition points, from calorie to phosphorus content.

Read the article.