There was a mix of attendees participating in AHF’s most recent webinar, but whether they were planning a construction project in the next year, or not for at least another 10 years, the presentation given by Joe Ninneman of Advocate Aurora Health proved to be an insightful case study of one system’s recent replacement hospital construction.
Walking attendees through the design, review, construction and opening of a recently completed replacement hospital in rural Wisconsin, Joe provided attendees with an intimate look at some of the challenges and opportunities he and his team faced throughout the process.
While there were certainly many challenges along the way, Joe and his team capitalized on the opportunity to pivot towards the future and make design and equipment changes to better suit the department’s needs. In the former hospital space, the food and nutrition department was operating out of a basement, with old equipment, and with design features that made the team’s day to day work tricky. On average the team served 250 patient meals per day and 250 retail transactions per day. However, after years of planning and construction, the team was finally able to begin operating in the new hospital and now serves an average of 325 patient meals per day, with an average of 750 retail transactions per day. Not only did their average meals and retails transactions increase, but they also saw a 45% increase in the average retail check.
Throughout this lengthy process, Joe shared with attendees some lessons learned from the lengthy process as well as future goals with attendees. He learned that during the first 30 days after a move, trial and error as well as feedback from all team members is key. By creating a culture of asking why and learning from mistakes, everyone on staff felt empowered and a part of the process.
While every department’s needs and construction process is unique, this webinar provided attendees with some helpful tips and a real-world perspective in hopes that other healthcare systems can position themselves for success during these challenging times.
AHF’s Online Learning Center has a new look! Check it out today! AHF members can watch a recording of this webinar, along with all of our monthly webinars online here.
Be on the lookout for our upcoming webinars, Coffee Talks, and events on our website.
Not a member yet? Click here to learn more about the premier association for self-operated healthcare foodservice and start taking advantage of our member exclusive member benefits.