Newton Medical Center has created a new program designed to provide options and convenience to patients when it comes to their meals.
Beginning tomorrow, the room service program allows patients to choose from a restaurant-style menu and customize their meals, depending on diet order restrictions set by their health care team. Because food will be made on demand, this program is also a cost saving measure, controlling inventory and the amount of food prepared.
“Ultimately, our goal is three-fold with this service change; increase patient satisfaction, empower and educate patients to make wise food choices while receiving care and change the mindset of our patients that hospital food can be appealing and tasteful,” says Robert Smith, Newton Medical Center director of food & nutrition services.
Daily room service hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Patients may order meals by phone or by placing an order with a room service ambassador who will come to their room and place the order using a tablet. Meals will be cooked to order, and patients will receive their meals within 45 minutes.
Some room service menu options include:
- Made-to-order eggs (including omelets)
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Entrée sandwiches and salads
- Panko-crusted cod filet
- Beef pot roast and pan gravy
Each patient’s meal will be managed to ensure proper nutrition. Nutrition information for each menu item is listed in the system, along with the diet order guidelines for each patient. When an order is placed, the system immediately confirms the food choices and calculates nutrient levels to ensure they are within the patient’s diet order guidelines.
Room service dining will also be available to patients’ caregivers and visitors.
About Newton Medical Center:
Newton Medical Center is a 103-bed hospital in Newton, Kan., providing comprehensive medical care to those in Harvey and surrounding counties. Services and specialties include emergency medicine, surgical services, occupational medicine, home health and more. The hospital, which also includes 12 primary care and specialty clinics, is conveniently located at the intersection of I-135 and Highway 50. For more information, call (316) 283-2700 or visit newtonmed.com.
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