THANKS to a new program called Choice Dining, patients at Abbotsford Regional Hospital now have more food choices. Patients on two units can pre-order food using an app or by speaking to a menu assistant at their bedside.
“Previously, the process was to take patients’ food preferences, but this wasn’t very flexible and sometimes restricted more items than necessary,” says Kaitlin Wilkie, director, Food Operations. “We wanted to ensure patients can see all their options and are empowered to choose foods they like. This minimizes food waste, as patients are more likely to enjoy the meals they select.”
Choice Dining was first launched as a pilot project at Royal Columbian Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital in the spring of 2023.
“Patients and their families can remotely select meals, providing a seamless and user-friendly experience,” says Kaitlin. “The menu assistant offers personalized support by engaging patients directly at their bedside and addresses any questions or concerns in real-time.”
While the app appeals to tech-savvy patients and family members, a menu assistant can assist in person with meal selections.
“Both options are important. The menu assistant option is currently more widely used than the app because the assistants come directly to the bedside,” says Kaitlin. “The app appeals to younger patients and loved ones who can remotely choose meals on behalf of a patient from any compatible device.”
The Food Operations team believes the Choice Dining Program will improve patients’ dining experiences while reducing malnutrition and food waste.
“Often, a lot of uneaten food comes back on trays,” says Kaitlin. “We are looking at reducing waste, and the literature supports that one way to reduce that is to give patients a choice in what they’re eating.”
Choice Dining is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner in specific hospital units and excludes patients on certain diets. However, the Food Operations team is working on increasing their offerings by adding a wider variety of diets in the future.
The Food Operations team plans to expand Choice Dining across units at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and other hospitals in the Fraser Health region.
“We’re excited to bring Choice Dining to patients in Abbotsford,” says Margaret Hagel, director, Food Operations. “Offering patient-centred care is at the heart of Choice Dining, since it’s where health care meets hospitality.”
