CLEARWATER, Fla. (September 6, 2002)---Room service and hosts are not just for hotels and restaurants anymore. Morton Plant Hospital recently launched new food service improvements including room service and a host program. Patients can request a variety of items ranging from a complete meal to a snack from a room service menu. Service is guaranteed in 45 minutes and is presented by a host or in a tuxedo-style uniform.

"The process allows patients to order what they want from the kitchen when they are ready to eat," said Janet Simon, director of food and nutrition services for Morton Plant Hospital. "All food is prepared fresh on site with such items as made-to-order sandwiches and baked goods from Alessi's Bakery."

Patients at Morton Plant Hospital receiving a bedside menu may order room service every day from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. After a patient places an order, a dietary clerk inputs the request into a computer. Special computer software monitors physician's dietary orders to ensure a match with the patient's room service order. After the order is prepared a hostess will bring the food�presented on china complete with a cloth napkin---to the patient's room.

"Along with the improved food service offerings, we also renovated the kitchen at Morton Plant," said Hal Ziecheck, chief operating officer of Morton Plant Hospital. "The renovation was made possible by a generous donation by Bernard and Mary Ann Powell."

Established in 1916, Morton Plant Hospital is a 687-bed facility dedicated to improving the health of all it serves through community-owned health services that set the standard for high quality, compassionate care. In the May/June 2002 issue of AARP Modern Maturity, Morton Plant Hospital was named one of America's 50 Top Hospitals and a Solucient Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital for the fourth consecutive year in 2001. In 2001, Morton Plant Hospital joined forces with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa to provide research and services for cancer patients. Morton Plant Hospital has more than 50 specialty areas of service including cancer treatment, cardiovascular medicine, behavioral health, neurosciences, emergency care, surgery services, women's health, rehabilitation and orthopaedics. Morton Plant Hospital is located at 300 Pinellas Street, Clearwater, Fla., (727) 462-7000.

Contact: Phoebe Ochman/Beth Hardy

MPMHC News Bureau

727 / 461-8117 Phone

727 / 468-7586 Pager