Forget what you’ve thought about hospital food being bland and unimaginative. Our Food and Nutrition Services department team members are working hard to change that perception — taking patients’ and families’ needs seriously and putting their hearts into their work.
“Food is comfort and security. Food makes you feel better,” says Rob Raichle, director of Food and Nutrition Services. “Most patients are under stress being hospitalized. So, if we can help make them feel more comfortable by providing them with good-quality, hot food... food that they’re used to having, I think it helps with their morale.”
Oodles of Options
Did you know that we offer not just traditional patient food service (in room, nutritionally specific) but also a cafeteria, coffee shop, a heart-healthy eatery, snack bar (soon to open), and event catering? And we even offer a room service menu—similar to a hotel—for patients?
It’s true. Our dining options outside of patient food service include the following:
Fresh Inspirations Café (main cafeteria on the Ground Floor)
Some of what you might find at Fresh Inspirations can include made-to-order breakfast items like egg sandwiches every day and breakfast buffets on weekends. For lunch, you can choose from freshly made sandwiches on the grill or hoagies, as well as a variety of salads and soups. And for dinner, items like Roast Sesame Salmon, Chicken Piccata, or Herbed Pork Chop take center stage.
“All of our soups are made in house,” says Rob. “I think the soups are super awesome. The whole team really does an outstanding job.”
Well Bean (in the Main Lobby)
Our convenient coffee shop serves up all your favorite caffeinated (and decaf) beverages as well as grab-and-go snacks, salads, and sandwiches — served with a smile by our baristas. The Well Bean tends to be our team members’ go-to spot for their morning pick-me-ups.
One Vision Café (in the Gorsky Atrium of the Cardiovascular and Critical Care Pavilion)
Our heart-healthy eatery, the One Vision Café, offers fresh and creative menu items including: grab-and-go and made-to-order salads, soups, sandwiches, and smoothies. You can enjoy your meal with friends and family in the comfortable and sunny atrium.
Snack Bar (currently in transition, near Lori’s Gifts)
Always a friendly place to grab a quick snack or a burger, the Snack Bar temporarily closed during the pandemic. Our team members are hoping to reopen it soon.
At Your Request (room service)
Operating much like hotel room service, you can order off of the special menu from the bedside any time between 6:30 am and 6:30 pm. “You pick up the phone, order the food, and we’ll make it specific to order and have it in front of you in about 45 minutes,” explains Rob. “We have a very knowledgeable patient service team that cares tremendously about the patient experience.”
Catering
Our Food and Nutrition Services department can cater events at the hospital and has an assortment of menus available that can include salad plates; seafood, beef, and chicken meals; buffets; pizza; pasta; appetizers; party platters; and signature desserts for any time of day.
Our Team
None of this would be possible without our dedicated team members. We have more than 70 team members in the department and more than a few have worked at our hospital for more than 30 years.
One of them is Tami S., who currently serves as a cook, and has worked here for nearly 36 years. “When my kids were little, I started in housekeeping but moved over to food service about 30 years ago,” she explains, adding that she’s worked in every area of food service at all shifts since that move.
Now she’s a grandmother and able to work shifts where she can pick up her grandchildren from school, and she loves it. “I always enjoy coming to work,” says Tami. “... I’m old school. You need an extra pair of hands and need the work done, let me know.”
Carl Sandberg started working in Food Services and Nutrition about three years ago as a receiver. He checks the merchandise that comes in, makes sure it’s organized, accounted for, and on the shelves for the cooks. He also will fill in to help cook or as a cashier. “I enjoy my job. But it’s fun to work as a cashier, too,” he says, adding he likes helping the customers.
Jobs Aplenty
Unfortunately, staffing in Food Services has been a challenge since the beginning of the pandemic. Then Omicron and the supply chain issues arrived and things got even tougher for everyone in the department — many taking on additional shifts and filling in where needed, according to Rob.
“All of our beds were full (in the winter), and we had a major staffing shortage in our department before that. Even though the hospital census is not as high now, both concerns are still happening,” he explains.
As a result, we have opportunities for cooks, general food service workers, and servers. The serving jobs involve delivering food to patient rooms and is a great position for students or someone who wants a part-time job in the evenings or weekends.
“We can train food service workers and servers; they just need a good attitude and a willingness to learn something new,” says Rob. “We do prefer some experience when hiring cooks.”
- For more information about jobs in Food Services and Nutrition, contact our Human Resources Department at 215.345.2406.
About Doylestown Health and Doylestown Hospital
Doylestown Health is a comprehensive healthcare system of inpatient, outpatient and wellness education services connected to meet the health needs of all members of the local and regional community. Doylestown Hospital, the flagship to Doylestown Health, has 247 beds and a Medical Staff of more than 435 physicians in over 50 specialties. An independent nonprofit health system, Doylestown Health is dedicated to providing innovative, patient-centered care for all ages.
