Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/769170
THE NEW ROOM SERVICE program at Mercy Medical Center-Centerville offers patients a better meal experience. Using it is as simple as picking up the phone and placing an order. "Our patients can choose the foods they want to eat and when they want to eat them," says Liz Zmolek, RDN, LD, Clinical Dietician with Mercy-Centerville. "Being sick or on medication can really affect the appetite. Our new program gives patients appealing options." FOOD FLEXIBILITY Before the new program, meals were delivered to patients' rooms at set times every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now, patients can order from the menu between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day. Patients can order anything on the menu during the hours when the kitchen is open. "A patient can order a bowl of soup at 10 a.m. or an omelet at 5 p.m.," Liz says. "Our patients don't have to worry about being interrupted for meals while they're resting or being brought something to eat that just doesn't sound good to them." Meals arrive hot within 45 minutes, and they're often delivered much more quickly. The dietary services team follows up with patients who haven't ordered anything. After hours, nurses use on-site nourishment centers to put together snacks for hungry patients. CUSTOM MENUS Four menus are available in the food service program. The general menu offers various breakfast, lunch and dinner options. It includes home-style favorites such as roast beef and a variety of breakfast choices. The three specialty menus include one with kid- friendly foods like chicken strips and mac and cheese. The heart-healthy menu helps patients control the amount of fat and sodium in their meals. Another menu, specifically designed for patients with diabetes, lists the carbohydrates in every item so patients know how to balance their food choices and stay within their daily limits. We strive to make every patient's visit comfortable. Learn more by visiting www.mercycenterville.org and choosing Patient & Visitor Info. Fresh, fast, on-demand food is just a phone call away for medical center patients. "Proper nutrition plays an important role in getting well. Our room service program makes it easy for patients to eat on their own terms." — LIZ ZMOLEK, RDN, LD, CLINICAL DIETITIAN, MERCY MEDICAL CENTER-CENTERVILLE Meals Made to Order Liz Zmolek, Dietician, and Kathy McClain, Dietary Manager, present the new menu options to Kae Morgan, hospital patient. MERCY MEDICAL CENTER-CENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 4