I am part of our hospital's patient satisfaction committee. My hospital is attempting to find ways to make our new mom's happier. To make them feel even more special and to show them how happy we are that they chose to deliver at our hospital.
The hospital across town gives new mom's a robe (to wear after delivery and also take home from the hospital). We have a list of some items and some other ways to make these women happy but I thought why not ask here. What do you do to make your patients happy? Other then good care?
Did your hospital give anything after delivery (Robe, Socks, Outfit for baby, Special soaps (not just hospital brand))
When I had my kids, the hospital didn't give too much, but what they did was hand decorate (I had girls so there were flowers) a hospital onsie and put all the baby stats on it.... full name, date of birth, time of birth, length, weight. My kids never wore it, but I still have it and thought it was a very nice keepsake.
My feeling, after working in places that gave away car seats (which were soon discarded at thrift shops instead of passing them along), steak and lobster dinners (and complaints from the couple that the entire extended family wasn't included) and other various comments about the content, quality or quantity of the freebies, is that maybe they don't get anything other than promotional items like lotions, formula, wet wipes, that kind of thing. So many of our paitients are getting the entire prenatal and hospital stay for nothing anyway, why perpetuate that mentality? Sounds cold, I know, but I'm getting more and more tired of people thinking it's their right to reproduce and my responsibility to support their kids.
Specializes in ER/Nuero/PHN/LTC/Skilled/Alzheimer's.
I work in a small hospital and am getting ready to deliver there in the next week or so. Personally, what I would like to receive would be something like a "baby 101" manual or something that would have some basic care info like, how to take a temp or when to call a doc, that sort of thing. Yes, I've taken the childbirth classes and an infant care class and have been reading numerous books since I found out I was pregnant, but when you actually have the baby and it's here, it seems to me that would be overwhelming to start with and some sort of little booklet on basic care would be handy for those "Oh crap I forgot such and such" moments. Also I work in ED and we get a lot of little bits in with basic care problems (Mom doesn't know how to take a temp-baby felt hot so she brings it in-temp is normal) that could be covered in a basic class. Sad thing is most people don't take these classes. I got a grab bag from the Baby 101 class that had diapers, a thermometer, suction bulb, small travel kit for the diaper bag, and coupons in it. That was 20-30 dollars worth of stuff just for showing up to a free class. But some nice smelling lotion or maybe a gift certificate for a local restaraunt would be nice too, especially to get a break from the house.
My feeling, after working in places that gave away car seats (which were soon discarded at thrift shops instead of passing them along), steak and lobster dinners (and complaints from the couple that the entire extended family wasn't included) and other various comments about the content, quality or quantity of the freebies, is that maybe they don't get anything other than promotional items like lotions, formula, wet wipes, that kind of thing. So many of our paitients are getting the entire prenatal and hospital stay for nothing anyway, why perpetuate that mentality? Sounds cold, I know, but I'm getting more and more tired of people thinking it's their right to reproduce and my responsibility to support their kids.
This is precisely why we don't give away corificeats and we don't do the special dinner after the birth.
Honestly, though, it has been my experience that most people are grateful for what they do get and are very gracious. It could be just me, or it could just be my hospital, but most of my patients are not of the princess crowd.
Specializes in Rehab, CICU, ICU Pulmonary, ER, OB.
The hospital I delivered at gave us 1 robe, 1 pack of diapers, 1 bulb syringe, as many pacifiers as the mother asked for, a baby onsies with the hospital logo "My Mommy loves me, She had me at XYZ", standard formula diaper bag with all those goodies, formula, a 'hospital birth certificate", and a hand made by volunteers baby hat! it's funky, but adorable!
Oh and all the nursing supplies you would need, nipple shields, nipple cream.. and so on... THAT meant the world to me!
OK, I'm a big, ugly cynic. I thought you went to a particular hospital because you liked and trusted your ob doctor and they recommended it and/or because you have heard of that particular hospital's reputation for being safe, having good staff, good outcomes, etc........................
Thanks, but I can buy my own bathrobe and car seat and I don't really want lobster while I'm bleeding, my breasts are sore and I can't sit. What I can't do is give birth and care for my baby who may or may not have complications by myself. Just my:twocents:
Sometimes, I just don't get where hospitals place their priorities. All those dinners and car seats could pay for an extra nurse who could help me learn to breast feed or otherwise take care of my baby.
We give all moms a diaper bag filled with goodies, coupons, formula, teaching materials and other odds and ends. We also give every mom a phone card for 30 minutes so they can spread the good news. There are tons of volunteers who are always bringing stuff to the floor like handmade blankets and things for the new moms too, but they arent official gifts. but they are cute.
This is precisely why we don't give away corificeats and we don't do the special dinner after the birth.
Honestly, though, it has been my experience that most people are grateful for what they do get and are very gracious. It could be just me, or it could just be my hospital, but most of my patients are not of the princess crowd.
We used to 'loan' car seats till they stopped coming back. Now with all the liability we aren't even allowed to help make sure the one they have is installed correctly. We have to direct them to the fire dept for that. No fancy dinners for our patients either.
I work in a small rural hosp. During labor we offer FREE doulas for every mom who wants one ( all of the techs are trained doulas). We also give the free formula bags. Patients have told us ( who have delivered elsewhere in the past) that we do more teaching and hands on than other area hospitals. Right now we are looking into giving those sleep bags for babies to each new mom. Our nursing educator found them somewhere and its going to cost us like $5 per bag, which is cheap compared to if you went to walmart or babies r us where they retail at $20 or more, plus those are safer for babies than wrapped in lots of blankets. Our Childbirth classes were free, but we started charging $25 and included is a light snack at each class plus a baby 101 book for the parents to keep.
We give them a robe, infant car seat, diaper bag and a gift bag that contains, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, lip gloss, deodorant, shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, pen, paper, comb and a bath net sponge. Baby also gets a handmade crochet cap.
Dang, where do you work?
All our moms get is a blueberry muffin and some chocolate milk
Well, it actually is THEIR baby, not the hospital's :)
We give a little box with a baby spoon, cap, blankie in it, but it is actually not provided by the hospital, it's given by the volunteers. I always load them up with diapers/wipes/formula if they want it- probably not sanctioned by the hospital but they appreciate it.
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bcyogi
44 Posts
When I had my kids, the hospital didn't give too much, but what they did was hand decorate (I had girls so there were flowers) a hospital onsie and put all the baby stats on it.... full name, date of birth, time of birth, length, weight. My kids never wore it, but I still have it and thought it was a very nice keepsake.