Hospital Power Players: Saint Francis Hospital

37. Saint Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Okla.

Licensed Beds: 962*
Management: Self-operated
Foodservice Head: Lisette Coston, MBA, RD/LD, executive director of support services
Avg. Daily In-patient Census: 793**
Avg. No. In-patient Meals/Day: 2,661**
No. of Retail Dining Outlets: 7**
Total Annual Retail Sales: $6.8 million**
Dining/Nutrition Services FTEs: 187**

A new 150-bed tower, opened in September 2014, necessitated the expansion of Saint Francis Hospital’s entire patient dining production kitchen, with a second room service line being added. In addition, a new retail venue call the Café was constructed to serve the new tower.

A few months before the opening of the new tower, in April 2014, the kitchen and dining space at Laureate Psychiatric Hospital was renovated to accommodate the Eating Disorder program.

In 2013, Saint Francis completed a $1.25 million renovation of its food court that included a new entrance, grab-and-go reach-in beverage cooler, Starbucks coffee kiosk and digital signage highlighting nutrition facts, allergens, a nutrition tip of the day, and a news and weather feed. A new service island now features healthy meal combinations and snacks meeting recommended nutrient limits: entree choices not to exceed 600 calories, 20 grams of fat and 750 milligrams sodium, and snack options not to exceed 200 calories.

Among other additions and enhancements were new cashier counters, custom snack and OTC medication displays and built-in refrigerator/freezer grab-and-go storage. The dining area was transformed with banquette seating, a bar-height counter, new carpet, updated lighting, paint, paper and new upholstery for dining chairs. The existing food court serving area was updated with new quartz counters and custom fronts on all existing islands. With a new entrance and exit, the food court can now be sectioned off in three locations, which will allow different service options throughout the day.

To further wellness goals, a self-branded Go Health! Today is the Day program, launched in January 2013, highlights a designated food bar that will offer healthy breakfast, entrée, cold salad, sandwich and snack choices at a reduced set price that day. The goal is to educate and provide a safe zone for customers to purchase healthy meal choices.

Another notable initiative is the Panda Meal Program at the Children’s Hospital, which offers one free meal to a caregiver for each pediatric and neonatal intensive unit patient. Funded by a local grant, the program was expanded five years ago to offer a hot meal to lower socioeconomic family members as well. It gives users an  $8 meal voucher that can be used in the food court or for a room service guest tray as long as it includes a healthy entrée. It cannot be used for sugary snacks or sodas.

*Includes Saint Francis Hospital, Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis and Heart Hospital at Saint Francis

**numbers for Saint Francis Health System