Patient Safety in Foodservice

Patient Safety in Foodservice

Nourishment plays a crucial role in a hospital patient’s recovery process, and patient safety in foodservice must be a top priority. However, risks like food allergy complications and diet errors can threaten a patient’s well-being—and a hospital’s reputation. Furthermore, tray delivery delays negatively impact patient satisfaction and an operation’s overall efficiency.

So, how can food and nutrition services avoid allergy conflicts, wrong tray delivery, and late trays?

Enter Automation

Software solutions can equip caregivers to manage patient allergies, diet restrictions, preferences, and tray delivery more effectively.

Nutrition

Diet office management entails many considerations, including an individual’s allergies, restrictions, and dietary preferences. A centralized, integrated system can help protect patient safety in foodservice by maintaining a single source of truth. Unified information can also offer a holistic overview of patients, preventing miscommunication and facilitating collaboration between care teams.

When it comes to meal selection, patient safety should be inherent. For example, consider the following scenarios:

  • A caregiver is taking the order at the patient’s bedside
  • A call center rep is assisting the patient via phone
  • The patient is using their mobile device to place an order
Healthcare workers using software solutions to maintain patient safety in foodservice

Regardless of the method, the selection process should always account for the patient’s allergies, restrictions, and preferences. A proper software solution will have an accessible, easy-to-use interface that supports staff and patients alike. For instance, it may be beneficial to use programs that automatically calculate nutrient limits so staff can focus more on patient interaction. Likewise, a self-ordering solution should educate patients so they feel empowered to make informed decisions.

Compliance

The tray delivery process poses further challenges to patient safety in foodservice, such as when a diet order changes. Consequently, tray tracking can help prevent incorrect deliveries and potential reactions or other adverse effects. Additionally, if a patient’s diet order switches to NPO, a tray delivery could result in postponed surgery and incurred costs, not to mention dissatisfaction for both the patient and their caregivers. A timely wristband scan can help staff identify any concerns and avoid frustrating and expensive mistakes.

Tray tracking software should also offer an on-demand summary of statistics for assembly, delivery, and pickup times. A dashboard can equip an operator with the ability to monitor staff performance and discover areas for improvement.

Data

Metrics help provide operators with objective information to analyze key performance indicators (KPIs), which support data-driven decisions. Moreover, staff can monitor aspects of a patient’s health via reports. Meal consumption records can show if a patient is receiving enough nutrients, and weight history can highlight any concerning deviations. Caregivers can then adjust the patient’s meal plan accordingly to reduce the risk of malnutrition or improper diets.

Final Word

Before partnering with vendors, ensure they have the same goals: to safeguard patient safety in foodservice and provide the best care possible. When it comes to risk reduction, every bite matters.

We are here to help! If you have any questions, please contact the Computrition team at info@computrition.com.