Current and future practices in hospital foodservice

Objectives To identify current operational practices and expectations for future practices in hospital foodservice; establish the probability that current practices will change; and determine whether differences in practices exist on the basis of profit status and hospital size. Design A questionnaire, to determine current practices, probability of change, and expectations for future practices, was mailed to foodservice directors. Subjects A random sample of 500 foodservice directors in US hospitals with 200 or more beds. A total of 214 questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 43%. Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics were used to report current practices, probability of change, and expectations for future practices. The Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted to examine whether the probability of change ratings differed on the basis of hospital profit status and size. chi (2) Analysis was used to examine whether expectations for future practices differed based on hospital profit status and size. Results Currently 81% of hospital foodservice departments have fewer than 100 employees; 73% have revenue budgets of less than $2 million; 49% have expense budgets greater than $2 million; 55% use a selective menu, often (43%) 1-week in length; 74% use conventional food production technology; 81% have a centralized, hot tray line; 91% operate a cafeteria; 96% do on-site catering; 69% have differential pricing for employee meals 58% have employee meals; and 19% have coffee kiosks. Changes in current practices are expected in several areas. Foodservice directors expect to serve meals to fewer inpatients (71%), employ less staff (73%), have smaller expense budgets (70%), and generate more revenue (61%). Kruskal-Wallis and chi (2) analyses indicated few differences on the basis of hospital profit status and size. There was little consensus among directors on how to best respond to these environmental changes. Applications Hospital foodservice practices will change in the future. Foodservice directors are using a variety of strategies (eg, revenue-generating ventures, menu changes) to respond to current environmental changes. Increased emphasis will be placed on running a hospital foodservice department as a profit center rather than a cost center.