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))
Other than a well-written baby care book, I believe that these "freebies" are unnecessary. The money would be far better spent on nursing staff, but I guess that is less glamorous.
After all, who wants good care when they can get luxury robes, massages, dinners, etc.
And what special arrangements do these hospitals make for their trauma, cardiac or ortho patients? Nothing, I'm sure. That has always bugged me.
money spent anywhere in the hospital is a good thing. Having a baby is a happy time and it brings money into the hospital. You have a choice where to birth your baby, for the most part, so why not try to bring people in to your hospital by giving away a few things to make the experience more enjoyable and make word of mouth better?
I don't see it as not giving to the trauma patients. In my hospital we have arrangements for families of the ones in ICU for sleeping, phone calling, food etc....its not a diaper bag, but its what they need to make a bad time maybe more comfortable.
Other than a well-written baby care book, I believe that these "freebies" are unnecessary. The money would be far better spent on nursing staff, but I guess that is less glamorous.
After all, who wants good care when they can get luxury robes, massages, dinners, etc.
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And the patient satisfaction polls will come back with negative comments about "the food was cold" or "the room wasn't big enough for my visitors" and other equally stupid comments that have absolutely NOTHING to do with the care given, but have EVERYTHING to do with what nurses get to do later to try and appease other patients who might have the same kind of narrow-minded critques.
The only thing I got was the diaper bag from the formula company. The idea is good but those bags are too tiny to carry much of anything. I actually used mine as a purse!
A full sized diaper bag filled with goodies for both mom and baby would be nice. I like the dinner idea, be it a dish sent home or a coupon for someplace.
We got to take home a souvenir hat that had a parachute saying "Delivered from above at (facility name)" It was an Army hospital where there is a large population of paratroopers. It was really cute. It's in my daughter's baby book. We also were given a lullaby CD.
We also had a special dinner with a bottle of sparkling grape juice.
I don't see it as not giving to the trauma patients. In my hospital we have arrangements for families of the ones in ICU for sleeping, phone calling, food etc....its not a diaper bag, but its what they need to make a bad time maybe more comfortable.
All of which is made readily available to the partners and families of OB patients during their stay as well.
I guess my beef is that for the most part, OB patients are young, healthy people who usually go home to family, friends and neighbors who are eager to bring over a dish, or stop by with a gift in order to see the baby.
What about the trauma, cardiac, med-surg and ortho patients? They are much more likely to be elderly, have less help at home, have difficulty getting out of the house, and they certainly don't go home with a cozy new robe, spa products, expensive dinner or gift certificate for household help.
I think it's wrong to cater to one group and not another. Just my opinion.
I got the usual formula bag. But my hubby and I gave the Gals (nurses) pizza one night. I was at a great place and we wanted to show our appreciation. This was 11 years ago though. I can't believe pts get dinner, gift cards, and even car seats! wow.
They have to cater to the ob pts because ob brings in the highest revenue! It's competitive-you've got to raise the stakes.
I guess my beef is that for the most part, OB patients are young, healthy people who usually go home to family, friends and neighbors who are eager to bring over a dish, or stop by with a gift in order to see the baby.
What about the trauma, cardiac, med-surg and ortho patients? They are much more likely to be elderly, have less help at home, have difficulty getting out of the house, and they certainly don't go home with a cozy new robe, spa products, expensive dinner or gift certificate for household help.
I think it's wrong to cater to one group and not another. Just my opinion.
Giving gifts is not about doing good deeds. It's a marketing tool.
They have to cater to the ob pts because ob brings in the highest revenue! It's competitive-you've got to raise the stakes.
I would be interested to see numbers that back this up. Many hospitals lose money on OB, but see it as a "loss leader" to get patients to return to their facilitis for other services such as out-patient care and ER.
Giving gifts is not about doing good deeds. It's a marketing tool.
I realize that, and would have no problem with it if they were similarly targeting other patient populations with attractive "freebies", which really aren't free, but take funding away from patient care.
I wonder whether the hospitals that lavish gifts on their new parents offer the same to their un-insured and Medicaid mothers. One facility where I worked did not. That left a very bad taste in my mouth, and clearly established a difference is the services provided, based on ability to pay.
I realize that, and would have no problem with it if they were similarly targeting other patient populations with attractive "freebies", which really aren't free, but take funding away from patient care.
? Why would they do that since "freebies" are a marketing tool?, i.e., they are designed to encourage people with money to bring their money to that particular hospital instead of a different one.
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Jolie, BSN
6,375 Posts
Other than a well-written baby care book, I believe that these "freebies" are unnecessary. The money would be far better spent on nursing staff, but I guess that is less glamorous.
After all, who wants good care when they can get luxury robes, massages, dinners, etc.
And what special arrangements do these hospitals make for their trauma, cardiac or ortho patients? Nothing, I'm sure. That has always bugged me.