In a recent survey, over 200 foodservice operators and one thousand consumers were surveyed about the priorities, perceptions, and needs of patients, staff, visitors, residents and the ways health care operators play a unique role in foodservice. In recent years, food has come to play a more prominent role in the hospital, long-term care facility, or rehabilitation center that patients choose to provide needed services. According to the survey, 60% of patients reported that food was a factor in choosing where to get care. Because most meals will be eaten at the facility, senior living and long-term care patients more closely consider food before making a choice. Patients responding to the survey sent the clear message that they preferred food that is familiar and delicious over food that is primarily healthy–with five times as many respondents prioritizing food that tastes good than those wanting food to be healthy.
From the management perspective, 82% of health care foodservice operators provide meals for patients and residents, as well as providing food for retail sale to employees and visitors. Overall, facilities providing meals to both these groups see the ratio of generated revenues as being two-thirds resident and patient meals, and one-third form employees and visitors. Given the research that shows patients are considering food more carefully, and the numbers showing that the majority of revenue generated by health care foodservice is from patient meals, it’s important to have a system in place that allows you to serve fresh, appetizing meals while controlling food costs and reducing waste. Innovative software for health care foodservice operations gives your staff the tools to serve fresh, delicious meals on demand, while monitoring nutrients and providing options that keep patients safe and support proper nutrition.
The Vision Software suite of applications for health care enhances productivity, patient safety and cost control by fully automating the health care foodservice kitchen. Room Service system puts mealtimes in patients’ hands by supporting on-demand ordering through a call center. When patients call to place an order, they are connected with staff who have access to patient profiles, with drug interaction and allergy information prominently displayed. Patients can request substitutions and add write-ins, and adjust quantities, giving them control while keeping them safe. Tray Tracking monitors trays from the time an order is placed until it returns to the kitchen. This application identifies service lags, groups trays by nursing station to handle peak delivery times, and alerts dietary office personnel to changes in patient status. Automate your kitchen, improve patient outcomes, and increase your bottom line.
Vision Software is the world’s leading provider of web-based foodservice software solutions for health care. We have been serving the hospital foodservice community for over 30 years, fulfilling our ongoing commitment to bring you innovative software suites and applications that help you meet benchmarks for care and customer service. Discover the what the Vision Commitment can do for you, call 629.777.8989 or fill out the form in the sidebar to schedule a free demonstration today.