2011 - NIH Clinical Center - National Institutes of Health

FRESHER, MORESEASONALCELEBRATING PATIENT SIBLINGSThe new “elegant”Clinical Center patientmenu features fresheringredients and newofferings from theNutrition Department.More fresh foods, more variety,redesigned layout.The ClinicalCenter Nutrition Departmentrolled out its revised patientmenu in mid-2010.The new menu replacessome frozen foods with freshversions. For example, freshspinach replaces frozen spinachon the dinner sides menu.TheFall/Winter seasonal menu also offers more variety,adding shrimp, pork chops, beef stew, baked sweetpotatoes, and a variety of new soups, includinga soup of the day.The menu is without addedtrans fat.“The Clinical Center strives to be ahead ofthe curve when it comes to our room serviceprogram,” said Jennifer Widger, Food ServiceSection chief, comparing the new menu to theoptions offered at other hospitals.“We provide a‘build-your-own’ concept for many of our items,such as a salad bar and pasta bar, so patients cancombine whichever ingredients they would like.”The recipes are developed by the department’scertified executive chef, Robert Hedetniemi.Every new menu item is then thoroughlyreviewed by clinical dietitians who determine ifthe item complies with more than 150 diets.Nutrition Department food preparation staff andphone operators receive training on new recipesand participate in a taste test, so they can answerquestions about items. Lee Unangst, dietitianinformaticist and manager of the department’scomplex computer system, ensures ingredients andnutrition information is accurate and correct.With a diverse patient population, the CC mustwork to feed a variety of diets.“Because we serve patients from all over the world,there are, of course, different food preferences,”explained Widger, describing how her groupfound a source of halal-certified meat for aMuslim patient who came to the CC for a lengthystay.“When we get a patient request, we honor it.”Brothers and sisters of Clinical Center patientswere honored during the Third Annual SiblingDay at the Clinical Center on July 13, 2010.“It is truly important that there is a time . . .they can be a proud, contributing memberof their family,” said Dr. Lori Wiener, eventorganizer and coordinator of NCI’s PediatricPsychosocial Support Program.The programis conducted in conjunction with the ClinicalCenter Rehabilitation Medicine DepartmentRecreation Therapy Section and The Children’sInn. Participants visited the Department ofLaboratory Medicine, the Department ofPerioperative Medicine, and a mock scanner in theNational Institute of Mental Health BehavioralHealth Clinic. Chief of the Recreation TherapySection Donna Gregory facilitated therapeuticactivities encouraging the siblings to talk abouttheir experiences with a sick brother or sister andstarting a conversation on what they face and howthey cope with it.In an operating room, siblingslearned how staff sterilize theenvironment and got a chanceto practice surgery in a mockbelly. Nurse Shayna Herbertshowed patient siblings KatalinaKhoury (left) and Kassidy Kochsome of the tools surgeons use.A N N U A L R E P O RT 2 0 1 1 • 1 3