Mesothelioma Patients May Get a Taste of Home During Their Next Hospital Stay

At some point during treatment, nearly every mesothelioma patient will end up in the hospital. Whether the time in the hospital is for a surgery, an inpatient procedure or due to complications, most everyone will agree that there is nothing pleasant about their stay. But at least one hospital in North Carolina has started offering afternoon tea to their patients as a way to help them temporarily forget where they are and to feel pampered, if just for a few minutes.

According to an article in Raleigh, NC’s News & Observer, Rex UNC Health Care hospitals began the afternoon tea service just two months ago. The hospital’s coordinator of patient food services, Ben Kesterson, previously worked at The Biltmore Estate where afternoon tea is offered every day. Currently, tea and a sweet treat are offered each day to a small number of Rex Health Care patients who are not under any dietary restrictions.

“It gives them 20 minutes to not think about being in a hospital,” said Kesterson.

In addition to the tea service, Rex has revamped their menus and patient food service to offer fresher, healthier meal options. The chefs at Rex, and the other Triangle hospitals, are opting for fresh vegetables and fish instead of canned foods.  They are also bringing in outside vendors such as Au Bon Pain and Starbucks to provide visitors with familiar food options.

MD Anderson Cancer Center, well known for its comprehensive mesothelioma treatment, also offers a wide variety of food options to patients and their guests. Visitors have access to various cafes and coffee bars for 24/7 service.  Patients can order from an “extensive restaurant-style menu of fresh, cooked-to-order foods that are tailored to the diet their physician has prescribed.” Room-service meals are served within 45 minutes of being ordered. Family and friends may order guest meals and dine with patients in their rooms.

Mesothelioma is an asbestos-caused cancer that primarily affects people decades after exposure to the mineral. Following a healthy diet and a good nutrition plan can help patients maintain their energy as well as safely manage their side effects from the various treatments. Hospitals that offer fresh, nutritious meals to patients can help them stay on track once they return back home.

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Nancy Meredith is a blog and web content writer with more than 20 years of professional experience in the Information Technology industry. She has been writing about Mesothelioma for 4 years. Follow Nancy on Google+