The mention of hospital food doesn't always bring out the most positive reaction. But food and nutrition specialists with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics believe a new program is changing the way people look at hospital food.
It works just like room service in a hotel. From a menu, patients order their meal by phone. Staff members review the order to ensure that patients receive food appropriate for their personal diet plans. The meal is prepared and delivered within 45 minutes of ordering.
"It's very patient-centered," said Joan Dolezal, director of Food and Nutrition Services. "It's very patient-focused. The patient is the one who is able to determine what they want, when they want it," she added. "We're able to meet that need and provide that service for them."
The program, called A La Carte, offers 31 different menus to all inpatients at UI Hospitals and Clinics. Each patient can order from a wide variety of upscale and healthy menu items, customizing every meal they eat.
"Definitely, we've gotten a lot of positive feedback from patients," said Doug Robertson, operations manager for Food and Nutrition Services. "We have heard patients say 'this is best hospital food I've ever had' to 'this is the best food I've ever been served.'"
UI Hospitals and Clinics is one of only a handful of large academic medical centers in the nation providing this kind of room service to patients. A pilot project showed the a la carte program also reduces costs and waste, while enhancing patient satisfaction and nutrition.
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