Focuses on Providing Fresh Food, Community Wellness Approach to Patient Healing and Satisfaction
Moon Township, PA, (February 15, 2011) - Heritage Valley Health System, a progressive community-based healthcare system located in southwestern Pennsylvania, has partnered with Cura Hospitality, a leading specialist in healthcare and acute care dining, to provide a fresh new approach to food services—one that focuses on patient satisfaction, while delivering exceptional and healthier dining experiences for hospital guests and staff.
Cura offers healthier dining options by combining a farm-fresh approach to food preparation that supports local agriculture through FarmSource, Cura’s buy-local program that features relationships with over 100 farms, grower cooperatives and producers of food throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, while providing clinical expertise that speeds the healing process. Cura was one of the first healthcare food providers in the U.S. to eliminate trans fatty acids from its menu, for example, and prepares all of its foods fresh, many of them from scratch.
“As part of our partnership, Heritage Valley will retain all of our current dietary staff and complement their fine efforts with the management expertise of Cura Hospitality,” said Norman F. Mitry, president and CEO, Heritage Valley Health System. “While exploring options for improving nutrition and food service options, we were especially impressed with the dramatic increases in patient satisfaction scores and positive patient responses during state surveys at other area Cura-managed hospitals.”
Over the last several years, Cura has made substantial commitments to promoting healthy lifestyles. To help support Heritage Valley’s wellness initiatives, Cura offers patients, staff and the community opportunities to learn more about good nutrition, exercise, and healthier lifestyles. Healthy promotion activities may include preventative health screening services, health education seminars and nutrition workshops.
Other partnership features include continuing the Personalized Room Service Program that Heritage Valley has had in existence for a number of years where patients have their dining orders taken in person by a dining assistant who focuses on each patient’s specific health and dietary needs as well as their personal preferences. The Cura team will meet regularly with hospital staff to design food choices that will help speed the healing process for post-operative and post-injury patients. Cura also assists in identifying nutritionally at-risk patients and recommends pro-active plans to help keep them nourished.
“Our partnership with Cura demonstrates our overall commitment to continually improving patient care, satisfaction and community wellness,” added Mr. Mitry.
Heritage Valley and Cura Hospitality will also partner to make renovation improvements to the retail cafes at both Heritage Valley Beaver and Sewickley campuses. Dining enhancements will include foods prepared from scratch and wholesome offerings such as fresh dough pizza, a variety of sandwiches, wraps and subs on freshly-baked breads and rolls, cooked-to-order foods from the grill, and on-the-go healthier take-out options, as well as gourmet coffees and homemade desserts.
“We’re excited to bring our expertise in food services management to Heritage Valley,” said Mitch Possinger, president and founder of Cura. “This partnership gives Cura and Heritage Valley the opportunity to transform the way hospitals in this region, and nationally, approach dining and wellness.”
About Heritage Valley Health System
Heritage Valley Health System provides comprehensive healthcare for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with more than 400 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its two hospitals, Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Sewickley; in physician offices; and community satellite facilities. Additional information about Heritage Valley Health System is available online at www.heritagevalley.org.
About Cura Hospitality
A member of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Cura Hospitality is a highly responsive and innovative dining services and hospitality provider dedicated to a mission of Enhancing Life Around Great Food. Cura serves over 50 senior living communities and hospitals in the mid-Atlantic region. Cura’s culinary, guest service and clinical professionals provide hospitality and clinical care to more than 20,000 residents, patients and guests each day. Visit us at www.curahospitality.com.
