Hospitals improve food service to increase patient satisfaction

Hospitals nationwide are changing the kinds of food they serve and how they serve it in an effort to increase patient satisfaction, and thus revenue.

By Healthcare Facilities Today


Hospitals nationwide are not only changing the kinds of foods they serve — trending toward greater emphasis on health and environmental sustainability — but also how they are serving it — with more facilities adopting hotel-style room service menus. 

And what is the motivation for this culinary movement? According to an article from Kaiser Health News, it all comes down to patient satisfaction and how that translates into more revenue for the healthcare providers. 

As part of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare now pays hospitals based partially on patient satisfaction scores, so administrators say food has become more important as food service can enhance the overall hospital stay experience, says the article. 

Kaiser also reports that food management companies for healthcare facilities say they are getting more requests from hospitals looking to boost their satisfaction scores for Medicare.

Richard Schenkel, CEO of Unidine, a Boston-based company that manages food service at 20 hospitals, is quoted as saying: "Healthcare reform is pushing a lot of these changes. There is a belief that when you have horrible food, it affects your patient satisfaction scores. Patients remember their food.  … It's the one thing that comes to them three times a day."

The article also cites the savings that can be gained by allowing patients to order their meals room-service style. One hospital saw food costs fall by $400,000 in the first year of its new delivery system based on eliminating waste.

Read the article



August 2, 2013


Topic Area: Industry News


Recent Posts

The Impact of Lighting on Aesthetics and Atmosphere in Healthcare

Lighting manufacturers discuss how lighting affects the look and feel of healthcare facilities.


Nearby Explosion Damages Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in Nebraska

No major injuries to patients or employees were reported.


Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville to Begin Expansion Project Construction

The expansion for the ICU is expected to be complete in the fall of 2025, with the emergency department to be complete a few months after.


Proofpoint and Ponemon Institute Release Third Annual Healthcare Cybersecurity Survey

The survey found that 92 percent of organizations surveyed experienced at least one cyberattack in the past 12 months.


Infection Control in the Splash Zone

Handwashing sinks have been a target for infection control improvement in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.


 
 


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.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.