In a healthcare facility, a patient’s experience goes beyond medical treatment—it extends to every aspect of their care, including the food they are served. A good foodservice experience can significantly impact a patient’s well-being and recovery. From boosting morale to ensuring proper nutrition, offering high-quality meals at the correct temperatures helps promote healing, provide comfort and create a more positive environment during their stay. We have four simple ways to make a big impact on the room service in your healthcare facility.
1. Actually Keep Food Hot During Transport
If your healthcare facility receives complaints about cold food, you’re not alone. Robyn Reed, with Majestic Care and Bluegrass Care and Rehabilitation facilities in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, knew she needed a solution after residents complained about food temperature retention. After she tried the Camduction® Complete Heat System, she noticed complaints decrease.
When visiting one of their locations, Reed said “I happened to put my hand on top of one of the domes of one of trays that had not yet been served and I commented to one of the nurse aides delivering the trays. I said, ‘Oh my goodness, I feel some nice warmth here on the top of this dome’ and the nurse aide commented, ‘Oh, the residents are absolutely loving the warmth of the meal’.”
Unlike systems that individually heat each unit, the Camduction heats 20 bases at one time, which not only saves time but increases efficiency. Residents can receive their food much faster and at the ideal temperatures. After food is safely inside a heated Cambro base and dome and set on top of a Cambro tray, the best way to further maintain temperatures is with an insulated Cambro meal delivery cart.
2. Stop Disrupting Patients with Loud Carts
Unlike noisy, metal carts that disturb resting or recovering patients and their visitors, Cambro’s wide range of meal delivery carts are constructed as one-piece with durable polyethylene that glides smoothly on quiet nylon casters through hallways. Double wall, high-quality insulation ensures hot or cold temperatures are maintained from kitchen to delivery. Plus, Cambro’s meal delivery carts can hold 10, 16, 20, 30 or 60 trays at one time, ensuring there’s an option to fit your facility’s needs.
Robin Rush, Director of Nutrition Services at Kingman Regional Medical Center in Kingman, Ariz., went to a conference to see which meal delivery carts were available to help bolster her declining patient satisfaction scores.
“I compared [Cambro carts] with [other brands] and I loved the Cambro [Meal Delivery Carts]. Those are my favorites. They were so quiet, and I liked the look of them. After I saw presentations, I had all three vendors out here and we chose Cambro,” said Rush.
3. Easily Measure Fluid Intake
Dehydration is a common problem in healthcare facilities.
- As people age, they may consume less fluid because their ability to sense thirst often diminishes.
- For those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, the circumstances can be more severe, as they may not recognize thirst or communicate their need for hydration.
- Patients recovering from operations have specific fluid intake requirements based on their medications that helps support their recovery.
In these situations, healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring patients have adequate fluid intake because they typically aren’t able to monitor it themselves.
Cambro Lido® tumblers were specifically designed with healthcare facilities in mind. With the choice of 6 or 9 oz. sizes, tumblers are marked in 2 oz. increments to make it easy for staff to record fluid intake over time and make adjustments when necessary.
4. Improve Tray Presentation
Traditional healthcare trays can be drab and unappetizing. Cambro created the Décor Series EpicTread™ Camtrays® to offer a modern design that mimics high-end woodgrain. Embedded with a clear, non-skid material called EpicTread, the likelihood of accidental spills sharply decreases and there is no need for unsightly, wasteful tray mats.
Additionally, Décor Series Camtrays have the option of being personalized with your logo or design to increase brand awareness and professionalism. The Wilmington VA Medical Center in Wilmington, Del., created a beautiful design to honor our nation’s heroes.
“I think it makes them feel like these were created especially for them, which to me, it’s real special. It just makes you feel like someone put in the extra effort into making you feel important,” said Angel Smolka, Nutrition and Food Service Cook Supervisor.
Trays can also be personalized with a QR code for easy access to menus and surveys. Adding a QR code to room service trays offers a sustainable alternative to wasteful paper menus and allows staff to make changes quickly and efficiently.
Prioritizing foodservice as part of patient care is essential to support physical and emotional health. Contact your local Cambro sales rep to get started on solutions for your facility today.
AUTHOR: ADRIANA COCHRAN IS THE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AT CAMBRO.
