Valet parking, free Wi-Fi, in-room massages and patient meals served on demand 24/7 are just some of the perks hospitals are borrowing from hotels to make patient stays more pleasant, according to The New York Times.
Medical research has found such hotel-inspired features, services and hospitality training for staff can improve health outcomes by reducing patients' stress and anxiety. In addition to improved clinical outcomes, many hospitals are realizing such amenities make the organizations more marketable, especially among patients with private insurance who have greater choice in where they receive care.
"It's a way for hospitals to compete with each other," said Zig Wu, a senior program manager at Stanford (Calif.) Health Care, according to The New York Times. Amenities are an important differentiator among hospitals, since there is little reliable comparative data on hospitals clinical outcomes, according to Mr. Wu.
Additionally, according to a Deloitte study cited in the article, hospitals with higher patient experience ratings were generally more profitable than those with poorer scores.
However, luxurious hospital features come with a price tag, some of which is billed directly to patients. Amenities such as VIP private rooms or spa services will often be paid for out of pocket. Other extras, such as expensive artwork, are often given by outside donors, according to the report.