Need ideas-perks for patients

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Sep 22, 2007

Is there a lot of competition in your area, or what is the reason behind the "perks"?

cassioo, RN · Sep 22, 2007

We are in the process of trying to develop some little "perks" for our patients. Some ideas have been a steak dinner for the new parents or a gift certificate for them to use at a resturant at a later date, sending home a "picnic" type meal for the whole family when they are discharged, etc....
What are some of the things that you are doing or even ideas that you have???

We used to have a special meal but then it was hard with the timing in 2 days to have mom and s/o both there dependingn on delivery time and discharge time. We then went to a basket that I liked that had bread, jam, cookies from a Panera Bread type store but then people would leave it and never open it...I thought it was wonderful bread :) Then we went to a stuffed animal/blanket snuggle thing for baby. We just went to a baby sack wrap. At another hospital in the area they give a little shower kit with Bath and Body shower gel, shampoo, lotion and a poof in a little travel kit...that took care of everyone that didn't bring their things to the hospital and also a little gift....of course all the hospitals in the area give the diaper bag things. When I had my 8 year old the hospital and just changed names so I got a baby afgan with the new hospital name that was pretty nice but the boss tells me they were expensive.

ebear, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2007

HA! When I had my last baby, my "perk" was a kick out the door! Many hospitals in my area used to give away very nice items (even car seats!) to new parents. I think it finally affected the bottom line too much.

Snugglibumkins · Sep 22, 2007

We are a Ban the Bag hospital. We instead give away a canvas bag with a board book 'The Runaway Bunny' or 'Goodnight Moon', a baby t-shirt that says 'I eat at mom's' or for the formula feeders 'this side up' (we have a 99% breastfeeding rate), a magnet for the fridge that has the warmline to call for a free second visit from lactation services (all of our patients see lactation services at no cost to them), and a booklet about breastfeeding, including a personal email invite from the local breastfeeding support group. We are the only hospital on our island, so we don't have to compete with anyone.

cassioo, RN · Sep 22, 2007

I wish we'd ban the bag but it's NEVER going to happen here we make Enfamil here. 3 formula companies are always bringing in stuff. I like the book idea. Dolly Parton has a bookclub for babies for certain parts of the country where children under 2 can get a free book per month for signing up....my hospital is in a participating county

crissrn27, RN · Sep 22, 2007

At one hospital I was at first we gave a bottle of fizzy grape juice in a wine bottle, then it was a steak dinner (which no one every ate, it was gross) for mom and dad, they said that was very expensive. Now they are doing a pink or blue bow and a cheeseburger or pizza dinner for mom and dad, and that seemed like the way to go. Also, they do diaper bags with a T-shirt with hospital name, a toy tester, a thermometer, and a burp cloth with hospital name. We also gave a pack of diapers, any leftover formula for bottle babies, nipples, paci, chux, and wipes. whew, that had to be expensive! Everyone loved the bows and the burger or pizza was better than the steak anyway. I think at the place I am now they do bags, but I do L and D and never see them, so don't know what is in them.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Sep 23, 2007

We do diaper bags -- all of which have formula, even for the breast babies. I think there is more formula for the bottle babies, but whatever. There is a little oneside with "I'm a superstar" or something on it, a CD with sleepytime songs, and some other stuff that I'm sure I've left out.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 23, 2007

Why isn't excellent care enough?

How about video games in the room and a floor show every 2 days?

CEG · Sep 24, 2007

One hospital in my area gives all the moms either a manicure or massage (their choice) and I think the dads get a steak or something.

I have heard they tend to also give c-sections or episiotomies to all their mommies too, so I think I'll keep my ugly nails.

This hospital is in one of the very upscale suburbs nearby and there are plenty of hospitals to choose from so I guess they have to have some sort of draw.

That Panera gift bag sounds great, almost worth having another baby for I can't believe no one took it- maybe they thought thay had to pay for it?

I like the bag and book idea. Maybe you could even get a local bookstore to get on board and give a book with coupon or something to cut down the cost?

Belinda-wales, RN · Sep 24, 2007

W do give a small gift of a blessing pillow- pink or blue at our hospital the patients get room service so they are able to order themselves a nice meal when they want it.

tvccrn, ASN, RN · Sep 24, 2007

At the facility I work in, and where I had my son this past May, we have the diaper bag but it's not from a formula company. It's one from the hospital with the hospital's name on it. Inside was a paci, extra diapers, wipes and lotion. Then the local library had a cloth-like bag with a book in it appropirate to the sex of the new baby and then another one suitable for either sex. Magnets with infant CPR and choking asssitance, one from the warm line, and one from the Children's Hospital. There was also a small quilt that had been made and donated to the Children's hospital by some of the area nursing homes. This one is quite small, but covered the baby up for sleep. Once we got home it has become his security blankie, it's the perfect size for him to chew on and once he startrs walking, he can carry it around without a long tail to trip over.

tvccrn