Food & Nutrition Set to Unveil New Patient Meal Service, Updated Kitchen

Next week, Food & Nutrition Services will begin rolling out its new patient meal delivery service along with a fully renovated kitchen.

In addition to giving patients a greater number of fresh meal options that suit their personal tastes and diets, the new, modernized kitchen will help Food & Nutrition staff prepare and deliver more meals. The old kitchen, located on the first floor in one of the oldest parts of the hospital, was built circa 1970, when it served about 350 patients each day. It also has been utilizing an outdated cook/chill food preparation model, where a limited menu of patient meals is cooked in advance, chilled and reheated before serving.

The recently completed kitchen will accommodate SMH’s increased census, which regularly tops 700 patients each day, and allow patient meals to be made fresh to order.

Last month, Food & Nutrition team members gave SMH staff a preview of the new patient meal service, as well as samples of chocolate cake — a new patient menu item — at a special informational fair in the hospital courtyard. From left are Clinical Operations Manager Michelle James, Supervisor Michael Chea, Cook Rico Sewell and Supervisor Anita Matos.

Here’s how the revamped patient meal service will work:

Room Service:

Room Service is scheduled to go live on June 22 on select units with patients who are able to order independently, including Mother-Baby, Pediatrics (with parents ordering) and Orthopedics.
• Food will be made fresh to order. Patients can order meals from a large variety of options listed on a bedside, restaurant-style menu anytime between 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Breakfast will be available all day.
• Patients on Room Service units will be able to place their order by selecting “option 1” on their bedside phone. Family members also can call in meal orders for their loved ones from outside the hospital.
• Meals will be cooked to order and delivered to patients within 45 minutes.

Fresh to You Service:

The “Fresh to You” meal service is also scheduled to go live on June 22. The program is tailored for higher-acuity units with patients who may need or want assistance in ordering meals.
• Patients can choose from daily specials, or a large variety of alternate options. The choices are listed on a bedside, restaurant-style menu.
• Nutrition Attendants will take patients’ meal orders at the bedside and ensure the choices meet any dietary requirements.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be delivered at specific meals times.

Both Meal Services Offer:

• Restaurant-style disposable menus developed by SMH’s executive chef, available at each patient’s bedside.
• Diet-specific menu inserts (renal, consistent carb, heart-healthy, pediatrics and plant-based) will be available for patients as appropriate.
• Each patient must have an active and current diet order.
• Patients’ guests will be able to order their own meal tray for $8.99. The guest meal tray will be delivered with the patient’s meal, so the guest doesn’t have to leave the bedside.
• Starting June 22, after-hours patient meal provisions will be available for unit staff to pick up in the Food & Nutrition Services room located on 5ET in front of the D elevators, and include daily chef’s specials, sandwiches and other selections. This will replace the ordering of patient meals at night.
Many thanks to the F&N team for all of their work to improve the patient meal experience!

Key Meal Service Contact Numbers:

• Diet Office: 917-1084
• Floor Stock Line 917-5403
• Patients/family calling from a personal or outside phone
may order patient meals by calling 941-262-3663
• Guest meals may be purchased for $8.99 by dialing (941) 262-3663
• The assigned Nutrition Attendant is available on Voalte.
• New Nursing Information Line for nursing units with
Room Service: 917-2103 (will be in service effective June 22)