Medical Staff

Hospitals increase service options to better serve patients

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, May 23, 2007

In many parts of the country, hospitals are striving to maintain a competitive edge by offering patients "hotel-style" amenities (e.g., valet parking, spa services, and wireless Internet), according to a May 18 article in the Orlando Sentinel.

Further, such hospitals are coming up with creative ways to better to assist thousands of out-of-town patients who must visit the emergency department (ED) while on vacation or a business trip. For example, the article states that the hospital recently began staffing the ED with guest-services representatives to help patients change flights.

Rich Rasmussen, a Florida Hospital Association spokesperson, is quoted in the article as saying, "Patients are looking for growing value for the healthcare dollars that they spend. We expect it from restaurants, we expect it from the auto dealer, we expect it from hospitals, too. And hospitals are doing everything they can to give people the best possible stay."

To access the full story, go to www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-erextras18x07may18,0,288689.story.

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