Who Says a Hospital Stay Can't Be Fun?
Gourmet dining, fine art—some patients even get field trips
Concierge services. Wi-Fi connections. Art on the walls. Staid is out, amenities are in, as hospitals try to stand out from the crowd. Century City Doctors Hospital in Los Angeles extols its menu, created by celeb chef Wolfgang Puck, and the flat-screen TVs in all rooms. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York has an afternoon tea service. And M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston offers patients field trips to local museums and attractions.
The healthcare industry needs to understand and appreciate "what makes our customers tick," says Gerard van Grinsven, CEO of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, slated to open next spring in the upscale Detroit suburb. ("Customers" rather than "patients" comes naturally to van Grinsven, a former vice president of the Ritz-Carlton chain.)
What's cooking? The new hospital will grow some of its own produce; a wellness center, walking path, cooking classes, and shops are intended to make it more of a community draw. All rooms will have minirefrigerators, and in-hospital lodging for families will be free.
None of this should come as a surprise, says Rick Wade, a senior vice president of the American Hospital Association. Letting patients maintain their Facebook pages or order their favorite comfort food while they're laid up shows that a hospital cares about creature comforts. And that just might increase market share.
Reader Comments
Infection Control
I have noticed that many patients contact staff infections right from the Hospitals. Some patients are dismissed and sent home. Some patients within a few days find that the wound is infected.This is discovered by the home health nurse. I can see why patients contact staff infections in the Hospitals as the traffic flow with visitors all hours of the day and night make it almost impossible to control I do agree private rooms and more heart monitors and a dinner companion such as a family member of loved one to share this with is a good idea. The idea of choosing the time of day to dine I don't agree with. Most Hospitals do not have the nursing capacity for room service. I think that the NorthBay VacaValley Hospital CA has the best patient Joint Knee Replacement Center I have ever toured.
The patient care is the utmost. The food is out of site, the nursing staff and Doctors plus the Volunteers who assist these patients before and after surgery should be highly commended.
Infection Control
I have noticed that many patients contact staff infections right from the Hospitals. Some patients are dismissed and sent home. Some patients within a few days find that the wound is infected. This is discovered by the home health nurse. I can see why patients contact staff infections in the Hospitals as the traffic flow with visitors all hours of the day and night make it almost impossible to control. I do agree private rooms and more heart monitors and a dinner companion such as a family member or loved one to share this with is a good idea. The Idea of choosing the time of day to dine I don't agree. Most Hospitais do not have the nursing capacity for room service.
I think that NorthBay VacaValley Hospital Vacaville CA has the best patient Joint Knee Replacement Center center I have ever seen.
The patient care is the utmost. The food is out of site, the nurses, Doctors and Volunteers who assist these patients before and after surgery should be highly commended.
Infection Control
I have noticed that many patients contact staff infections right from the Hospitals. Some patients are dismissed and sent home. Some patients within a few days find that the wound is infected. This is discovered by the home health nurse. I can see why patients contact staff infections in the Hospitals as the traffic flow with visitors all hours of the day and night make it almost impossible to control. I do agree private rooms and more heart monitors and a dinner companion such as a family member or loved one to share this with is a good idea. The Idea of choosing the time of day to dine I don't agree. Most Hospitais do not have the nursing capacity for room service.
I think that NorthBay VacaValley Hospital Vacaville CA has the best patient Knee Replacement Center center I have ever seen.
The patient care is the utmost. The food is out of site, the nurses, Doctors and Volunteers who assist these patients before and after surgery should be highly commended.
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