Valet Parking

[Roseyposey]

My hospital announced as part of its commitment to customer service, it will now start to offer valet parking. I am very comforted by the thought that our patients' visitors will no longer have to walk from their parking spots to the elevators. I will reflect on this many times as I take care of my seven patients without the benefit of an aid or unit secretary. I am so glad that the hospital finally realized exactly what they need to do to fix our satisfaction scores.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Welcome to the "Healthcare Hilton," where patients and family members can expect to receive care while reaping some of the benefits of a 5-star hotel.

I am sickened by the facilities that decorate their lobbies to resemble fancy hotels. I'm tired of the patients who expect pillow fluffing services, wrinkle-free sheets, restaurant-quality meals, concierge services, and other "perks." I want to vomit at the family members who demand service from head-to-toe. I'm a nurse, not a bellhop, hotel clerk, courier, or customer service agent. This valet parking program adds another useless service that takes the focus away from good care, and steers it toward "customer service."

When will this idiocy end?

[casi, ASN, RN]

Our hospital has valet, and I kinda think that it’s a nice service to have. Think of the age of our patient population, and then think of the age of their visiting spouses/family/friends. Even with handicap parking the walk across the parking lot or from the parking ramp can be long and tiring. I wouldn’t be surprised if there have been several falls due to it.

[Roseyposey]

Our hospital has valet, and I kinda think that it's a nice service to have. Think of the age of our patient population, and then think of the age of their visiting spouses/family/friends. Even with handicap parking the walk across the parking lot or from the parking ramp can be long and tiring. I wouldn't be surprised if there have been several falls due to it.

However, there have also been many falls r/t shortage of nursing staff.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

You go Commuter - I so agree.

[anonymurse]

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nurse+hilton/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_13749236/opt_/fpt_/c_666/

[jackson145]

In reality, the shift is toward customer service and not it's not just in healthcare. Also, insurance premiums cost a lot these days and people expect these services. We don't have to like it, but we might as well get used to it. After all, the patient is a customer and without customers we're all out of work, right?

[anonymurse]

After all, the patient is a customer

Disagree.

[JVanRN]

I think the valet parking is nice enough to have, provided the improtant issues like patient safety have been addressed. Most of the time though it's not.

Our hospital is pushing all this stuff too. Building a fancy new gift shop, rennovating units, paying the staff attend customer service classes...and closing down units and laying off staff in droves, making staff fill out over-time justification sheets if you punch out (literally ) one minute over your 12 hour shift. All at the same time.

[anc33]

I think that the valet parking is nice. Our hospital offers it also, they charge around $5 or so for the service. It is not like the money is going into the parking over the nursing staff. It is a purely profit-making activity for the hospital.

[happydays352]

In reality, the shift is toward customer service and not it's not just in healthcare. Also, insurance premiums cost a lot these days and people expect these services. We don't have to like it, but we might as well get used to it. After all, the patient is a customer and without customers we're all out of work, right?

We'll be outta work when people stop becoming sick/growing old.

I'm not too worried.

[nicurn001]

In reality, the shift is toward customer service and not it's not just in healthcare. Also, insurance premiums cost a lot these days and people expect these services. We don't have to like it, but we might as well get used to it. After all, the patient is a customer and without customers we're all out of work, right?

Unless the patient is private pay , paying for their healthcare themselves . Patients are customers of their insurance carrier , and consumers of healthcare.

If given a free choice of health care facillity I and I believe many others would much rather go to a Healthcare provider who emphasies CLINICAL excellence , rather than Culinary excellence .

Rather than have Customer Satisfaction surveys for our customers, their should be clinical / care satisfaction surveys for our patients .

The only reason for CS surveys , rather than Clinical surveys is that administrators understand Customer Service , they have no concept of the relationship of Clinical excellence to the bottom line . So they continue to come up with low cost feel good solutions , rather than real good solutions .