“Foodie” culture is sweeping the nation, aided by apps like Yelp, Grubhub, and OpenTable, and your local hospital is likely not immune (see what I did there?)
With CMS reimbursement rates now tied to patient and family experience, and healthcare organizations laser-focused on attracting and retaining top talent, sometimes it’s the “intangibles” that make all the difference: That’s the business case. Add into that, food plays a direct role in 4 of the leading causes of death in the US, and it’s natural that hospitals are rethinking their nutritional offerings. These are some of the concepts being employed by our clients to overhaul the image of the traditional hospital cafeteria:
1. Farm-to-Table
Who doesn’t love a good farmers market? Wherever possible, hospitals are looking to bring fresher products and locally-sourced ingredients into their offerings. Some are even growing their own food on-site! As part of their new hospital campus, Western Wisconsin Health has made space available for community gardens, and organized how-to sessions for the public. Read more about their efforts here or here.