Mater Private Wins Award for Lowering Food Wastage and Improving Patient Outcomes

[caption id="attachment_8586" align="alignright" width="133"] Mater Private Hospital Executive Director Don Murray with the Private Hospital's Association of Queensland Award for innovative practices[/caption]

An innovative room service initiative at Mater Private Hospital Brisbane (MPHB) has been recognised by the Private Hospitals Association of Queensland (PHAQ) for significantly lowering food wastage and improving patient outcomes. 

Room service, implemented a year ago at MPHB, received the PHAQ/HESTA Innovative Practice in the Private Sector Award 2014 for cutting food wastage by 15 per cent, worth approximately $500 000, over the past 12 months.

Food wastage from plates served to patients has dropped to 12 per cent from 29 per cent, well down on the 30 per cent industry benchmark.
An Australian first, the hotel-style room service allows patients to order meals from an extensive menu at any time from 6.30 am to 7 pm every day.
Mater Private Hospital Brisbane Executive Director Don Murray congratulated Mater’s food services team on the award win and for their initiative to develop a model that challenged the existing notion of set meal times for patients.
“Over the past 12 months we have had a major decline in food wastage as a result of patients taking control of their meal times and ordering the type of food that appeals to them.
“The room service call centre operators utilise a special software application that ensures patients can only order those options appropriate to their current hospital admission. Where an item is not appropriate, the software lists suitable alternatives for the patient to choose from.
“Each patient has different needs in regards to their care and nutrition and room service has been particularly successful with haematology and oncology patients who have a limited appetite due to some of the treatments. Allowing them to choose the food they wish to eat when they feel like it, while providing a safe service, has been the key to its success.
“We are delighted to have been recognised by the industry for leading the way when it comes to food services in hospitals which is evident in the positive feedback we have received from our patients,” Mr Murray said.
Patient satisfaction relating to overall meals provided has risen to the 75^th percentile from the 35^th percentile—benchmarked against 143 hospitals throughout Australia.
PHAQ Executive Director Lucy Fisher said Mater’s room service initiative clearly demonstrated it was at the forefront of innovative healthcare.
“The introduction of a hotel style room service model offering extended kitchen hours with incorporated system safeguards to ensure specific patients dietary requirements are satisfied, is a truly innovative concept and a wonderful example of patient-centred care,” she said.
The PHAQ Innovative Practice Awards draws entrants from across the country.
All dietary requirements are catered for on one menu and once meals are ordered by the patient over the phone, the meal is cooked and delivered by a Dining Host within 45 minutes.
Mater is looking at ways to extend room service to more of its hospitals and provide the same service for patient’s guests and family members.
The Room Service menu includes sirloin steak with red wine jus, grilled salmon with basil pesto and mango and coconut cheesecake for dessert.