Kaiser Hospitals Lead Efforts To Improve Patients’ Nutrition
Kaiser Permanente hospitals in California are leading a nationwide trend toward more nutritious food options for hospital patients to help improve their eating habits and overall health, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Kaiser has partnered with the Community Alliance with Family Farmers to use fresh produce grown by local family farmers in 6,000 meals daily at 19 Northern California hospitals.
In addition, farmer's markets operate at 38 Kaiser hospitals, and patients in some facilities can choose from restaurant-style menus. Kaiser also is testing hotel-style room service and options for preparing food other than frying.
Preston Maring, an associate physician-in-chief at Kaiser's Oakland Medical Center, recently launched a blog to help consumers learn more about fresh produce and nutrition and find healthful recipes.
The changes at Kaiser and in hospitals nationwide are driven by an effort to improve patient satisfaction and reduce the rising rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease (Landro, Wall Street Journal, 9/19).