When some people think of hospital food service, standard meal times and lackluster menus may come to mind. However, more hospitals across the country are making it a point to improve their efforts to meet patients’ expectations. Focusing on patient satisfaction can potentially encourage people to come back to an establishment in the future while keeping a hospital competitive.
This is what one facility in the San Francisco Bay Area is doing, according to KGO-TV. Recently, El Camino Hospital in Mountain View has made headlines for its efforts to appeal to its patients through improved care and hospital food. Jacques Wilson, who is the executive chef at the hospital, was shocked at the original kitchen and food that went out to the patients.
“Quite frankly, when I first came here we were in the old hospital, and I looked around and said, ‘Oh, my gosh,'” Wilson told the news source.
Since then, he’s revamped the kitchen and made it look like something better fit for a five-star restaurant. However, it’s these types of advancements that are boosting the attractiveness of El Camino Hospital to people in the region.
“We have a turkey Salisbury steak, which is really good, and lots of flavor,” Wilson told the news source. “We put mushrooms on it, we use a vegan demi-glace.”
However, Wilson acknowledges that it isn’t easy for establishments such as hospitals to simply revamp their menus to suit the tastes of patients. In many cases, individuals have certain food restrictions that prohibit them from consuming items that interfere with recovery and treatment. Despite these limitations, Wilson has still found a way to make people feel good about what they’re eating.
“You’ll see a lot of comfort food, because when you’re sick or when you’re stressed, or family members are stressed, comfort foods are what keep people going,” he continued.
Improving patient satisfaction
Aside from adjusting a hospital menu, there are other ways that these facilities can potentially make people happier during their stay. Physicians Practice stated that simply keeping patients and their loved ones up-to-date can go a long way when it comes to enhancing their experiences.
Doctors who make it a point to maintain open levels of communication with their patients at all times can also make them feel better about the hospital. In the end, it’s these small efforts that can encourage an individual to return to a medical establishment in the future.