The Kansas Hospital Education and Research Foundation has designated Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County for successfully put in to place new policies to provide healthier food options in the hospital cafeteria and throughout the facility. Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County adopted recommendations made by KHERF’s Healthy Kansas Hospitals initiative.
KHERF, which was founded by the Kansas Hospital Association in 1969 to extend the association’s ability to provide projects in the areas of health care workforce, rural health, emergency preparedness and health professional education, commended the hospital for their efforts to offer appealing, low-cost, healthy food and beverage options throughout the hospital.
“As the primary source of health care in many communities, hospitals have the opportunity to influence the health decisions of not only their employees and patients, but also the general public by the food and beverage choices they offer,” said Josh Mosier, Healthy Kansas Hospitals Project Director.
The recent changes to food and beverage policies made by Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County as part of their participation in the initiative include increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, increased availability of drinking water, adding nutrition labeling for meals in the cafeteria and reduced usage of the cafeteria’s deep fat fryer.
“It is important that hospitals are active in setting the example for their communities by providing the healthiest choices possible,” Mosier continued. “Not only is offering more healthy foods better service to patients, it also represents better health for the Lyons community and surrounding areas.”
Hospital District No. 1 of Rice County represents an estimated 154 employees.