As a part of Geary Community Hospitals Strategic Plan update the hospital is considering adding valet services and room service.

Valet services are fairly common according to Alice Jenson, GCH COO, who has been at other hospitals who offer it.

“It gives those, especially the older patients that have difficulty in getting out, they can still park their car and a valet, usually you use a golf cart type thing, and pick them up at their car and then they’re out there and drive them back to their car,” Jenson said.

The project has been put together and is just waiting for administrative approval according to Jenson. She also mentioned that volunteers will be key members for the success of the valet program.

“It’s been kind of a joint effort between employees and the volunteer group so that’s going to be great.”

The room service project will be a major project as well, including a complete software system that gives more access to food for the patients, Jenson said.

“The computer system will allow the patient to call at anytime. It doesn’t have to be at eight a.m., noon and six o’clock that you eat, you can eat at two in the afternoon or at ten in the morning,” Jenson said.

The dietary staff will have any diet restrictions for each patient on file and will be able to meet their needs at anytime.

“It’s much more customer friendly for the patient, it certainly saves us on wasting food that the patient doesn’t really want.”

They are hoping to push that one through and get approval from the administration but Jenson said that because it is such a large project it will take some time.