Hospitals go gourmet

DALLAS – Welcome to hospital food nouveau, where menus tout salmon with cucumber and melon relish. Or chocolate chip pancakes. Reservations not required. Hospital gowns acceptable.

A growing number of hospitals are moving to hotel-style room service for patients.

“I think people have that perception before they even come into the hospital, ‘Oh it’s hospital food. I know it’s going to be bad,’ ” said Mary Ann Moser, director of food and nutrition services for Medical City Dallas Hospital, which recently began its new food service.

The hospital serves about 350 meals each breakfast, lunch and dinner. Patients can call from 6:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. to place orders for food that is prepared fresh and delivered to their rooms within 45 minutes.

“Patient satisfaction was really a key for us,” Moser said.

Trying to lure patients and keep them happy in a competitive market is what inspired hospitals across the nation to start banishing bland food served at set times.

“It’s kind of a trend of placing the patient in the center of what a hospital does,” said Alicia Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the American Hospital Association. “This is one example of a hospital offering more choice.”

The National Society for Health Care Food Service Management is surveying hospitals to find out how many now offer menu or gourmet service, said Mike Giuffrida, chief executive for the Washington-based trade group.