One of the most positively influential new healthcare trends to come out recently is a call to action for greater focus on overall community wellness is the improved attitude toward communal outreach efforts, especially relating to nutrition and hospital foodservice. As official hospital performance standards follow suit, shifting beyond healthcare outcomes and patient safety, and into engaging communities and improving the health of the local population, hospital leaders are realizing just how unprepared they actually are.
Many hospitals throughout the country are already implementing a variety of outreach programs designed to engage and educate their local communities in proper health and nutritional practices as well as improve population health. Though some hospitals may be hesitant in light of these new changes, it’s important to acknowledge the fact that improving the overall health of the community through better foodservice not only establishes greater trust, but also will inevitably lead to reduced long-term healthcare costs for both the hospitals and residents in the community.
In following the examples of the countless progressive hospitals that are already actively making a difference in their neighborhoods, there are many ways to take foodservice out of hospitals and into the community. Creating beautiful gardens that provide fresh herbs and produce for hospital foodservice programs, establishing local farmers’ markets to connect residents in the area with local artisans and farmers, hosting community events and dinners to bring people together to share delicious food and educational fun, offering nutrition and cooking classes that feature healthy and affordable recipes that even struggling seniors and adolescents can easily make at home, and supplying or donating fresh healthy meals to those who do not otherwise have access are just a few of the creative ways that other hospitals are striving for excellence in this newly revitalized healthcare industry.
Taking foodservice out of hospitals and into the community can be an incredibly fun, rewarding, and even a profitable decision to make. Aside from keeping up with new related regulations, when you take foodservice out of hospitals and into the community you are afforded the unique opportunity to comprehensively heal your community from within, and perhaps even bring it a little bit closer as a result. If you want your hospital to lead the revolution in your area for greater community strength and health, then you need to take your foodservice efforts beyond your hospital doors and out into your community today. Call 629.777.8989 or fill in the free consultation form in the sidebar to learn more about how our software can positively impact the lives of the patients and visitors you service every day.