Is Your Hospital Doing Something Similar?

[peds_mike]

Effective the first of the new year, our hospital (a childrens hospital) will be eliminating sugared soft drinks from our facility. That means from dietary, from food court vendors, from the cafeteria, from vending machines, etc. It is part of a new initiative to address the concerns of child obesity and its affect and the overall and future health of children.

As employees, we will now have to supply our own drinks if we want those of the contraband variety:D. However, for parents, this may be big issue. They will have to bring their own or leave the hospital to get it if they want. Sometimes, this is not always easy.

Any others out there with a facility that is doing something similar? What has your experience been?

[OttawaRPN]

I've heard of hospitals taking this approach and I'm not bothered by it. They'll still be selling juice, water, Vitamin water, iced tea etc. so not like anyone is going to become dehydrated. I don't drink that crap anyway.

On the other hand, for the sake of consistency and fairness they should also be banning the chocolate bars, chips, pizza and fries in the caf otherwise what the heck is the point?

[thinkertdm]

They should also enforce the smoking bans. The hospital I'm at limits smoking to a certain distance from the facility, but most of the employees push the limit.

[hopefulwhoop]

I think it's a great idea. Some of the meals I've seen served to patients just puzzle me. I don't understand why patients are served fried chicken and soda. Seriously?!?! I think a hospital should promote a healthy lifestyle and I think banning junk food is great.

Also, my hospital is "smoke-free," meaning both staff and pts are not supposed to smoke on hospital premises. Is it enforced? Nope. Kinda ridiculous.

[peds_mike]

Right. I have no problem with it, but it is the other foods that we are not addressing. Or, maybe that will be later. They are still going to be selling drinks and juices that contain sugar, and of course, candy bars, chips, etc.

As for the smoking ban, our facility has a park across the main drive from it...maybe 50 feet from the hospital. This is where all the parents go to smoke. You have to walk by the smokers to get to the building, and by the time you get there, you smell of smoke and your lungs are cursing you. Sometimes, I just want to hold my breath and walk or run by quickly. I am sure that would turn out well.

[cardiacmadeline, RN]

If they are going to get rid of soda, they should get rid of all the other crap food. And I am not quite sure how I feel about that yet. My opinion is that some (and I emphasize some) parents should be more responsible for their children's health and not buy them crap food and teach them healthy eating habits.

We also have a smoking ban at our facility, which I am for. But people still go outside to smoke across the street and I think it is looks pretty cheesy when you walk in the hospital and see your dad's nurse smoking a cigarette.

[pers]

I think it's one of those ideas that sounds good in theory but doesn't have the intended impact in practice. Limiting a patient's drink choices is not going to make any significant impact in their life unless you are talking about a patient so sick they "live" at the hospital. If the hospital wants to address childhood obesity (or just obesity in general), I'm all for it! But I don't think eliminating soda is going to do it, a strong educational campaign would be a much better investment in my opinion. However, that costs money and not buying soda will save the hospital money so the choice for them is a no brainer. Patients may miss the soda while in the hospital but when they leave, they will just resume their old habits.

[mks1014]

Small steps! I think this is a fabulous idea! Hopefully, the other bad food will become phased out in time. I'm a RD (going to school for my RN) and work w/ dialysis pts. I hear SO MANY times, "well, I was served ice cream (coke, OJ, etc) in the hospital, so I thought it was ok for me to eat." This is a pet peeve of mine, b/c we should always be encouraging healthy foods (that taste good ) especially in the hospital and in schools.

I also agree this is just a small step to a large problem, but I do believe small steps will eventually get us somewhere.

[annabeap, MSN, APRN, NP]

My hospital never supplied soda for our patients. They offer juices, bottled water, and Gatorade. But we still have vending machines with the contraband, and soda fountains in the caf. :)

Kids are picky, and I can't win every battle. If it takes a sugary soda for them to take a pill, so be it. And right- what they ate/drank (or didn't) while they were in the hospital, won't be changing their lifestyle and dietary habits.

Anyways, good luck with your thirsty/angry kids!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I wish my hospital would do something like that -- particularly in the cafeteria. 90% of the food there is unhealthy and those of us who eat lunch here regularly have trouble finding healthy choices. Packing our own lunches every day is not a good option for all of us and I wish we had more healthy selections available to choose.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i can see not serving it, but banning across the board just seems over the top.....and what do i do when i want some gingerale for a patient with an upset stomache?