Why Are Hospital Food Options So Bad?

Literally adding insult to injury, hospital administrators should be ashamed of themselves for price gouging parents and other loved ones helping their children recover.  Hospital cafeterias get away with this price gouging because they are the only game in town.  Their inherent monopolization allows bottom line administrators to make prices more like airports and sporting events.  Where is the compassion? 

I will never forget trying to grab a quick bite to eat before running back upstairs to be with my son who had received a bone marrow transplant.  I grabbed the first thing I saw, which happened to be a bowl of soup and some crackers.  While checking out, I was made to count how many crackers I had so they could charge me individually for them.  I felt like I was on Spirit airlines where they practically charge you for breathing the air, instead, I was at Cincinnati Children’s hospital.  It is immoral, stupid and just plain wrong to nickel and dime (although really more like Jackson ($20) and Grant ($50) you) and price gouge people already paying thousands of dollars a day for necessary care.  Parents, family members and other patient advocates should be relieved from paying such outrageous prices. 

Some hospitals make more than 25 cents to every patient dollar taken in and can afford to offer reasonably priced food options.  Hospitals that refuse this option, should offer parents/patient advocates coupons or some other discount.  These coupons could be distributed by hospital social workers to ensure accuracy and limit fraudulent/abusive behavior. 

Another way to bring down the price is via competition.  I was excited to see a mobile coffee truck offering better, yet cheaper coffee than that served in the hospital at Stanford. With the rise of the food truck comes a mobile, cheaper and, in many cases, better alternative. 

People may already be in a pretty sad situation without having to worry about being able to eat.  It is our job as human beings to help others in rough times; to ease their pain…as a matter of fact, hospitals are designed FOR this purpose.  

I want to be clear, we are not asking for handouts, or free food.  We are asking for REASONABLE food options.  Making a buck on the back of parents caring for kids should be illegal.  Since it is not illegal, public shaming will have to do.  Let us know what outrageous hospital food options you have witnessed.  The Mighty Lionhearts stand ready to hound hospitals to stop this immoral behavior!  

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Roar,

The Mighty Lionhearts