Luxury hospital suites — costing patients up to $1,500 per day — are on the rise, as hospitals compete for international and wealthy patients through amenities like butlers, gourmet menus and high thread-count bedding, according to a New York Times report.
An architect who specializes in healthcare design projects said more hospitals are competing for patients who can pay in cash and those medical tourists who can afford to go wherever they want for care. A suite at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York costs $1,600 per day while maternity suites in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles cost roughly $3,785, for example.
The 19-room Eleven West wing at Mount Sinai takes in about $3.5 million per year and has a sharp focus on patient satisfaction. Mount Sinai's director of hospitality said the wing offers meals like rack of lamb and honors patients' detailed requests, such as buying lobster tails if the patient happens to crave them that day even if they weren't originally on the menu.
These facilities also tend to be tightly preserved from the public. The New York Times report said NewYork-Presbyterian would not answer questions about its amenities units and declined a reporter's request for a tour.
Luxury suites have also received scrutiny due to the recent birth of Ivy Blue, the daughter of celebrities Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. City Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the private hospital's right to rent suites.
Role of Amenities in Hospital Care: Q&A With Dr. John Romley, Co-Author of Study on Patient Amenities in Hospital Care
Study Examines Role of Patient Perks in Market Share, Healthcare Costs
An architect who specializes in healthcare design projects said more hospitals are competing for patients who can pay in cash and those medical tourists who can afford to go wherever they want for care. A suite at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York costs $1,600 per day while maternity suites in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles cost roughly $3,785, for example.
The 19-room Eleven West wing at Mount Sinai takes in about $3.5 million per year and has a sharp focus on patient satisfaction. Mount Sinai's director of hospitality said the wing offers meals like rack of lamb and honors patients' detailed requests, such as buying lobster tails if the patient happens to crave them that day even if they weren't originally on the menu.
These facilities also tend to be tightly preserved from the public. The New York Times report said NewYork-Presbyterian would not answer questions about its amenities units and declined a reporter's request for a tour.
Luxury suites have also received scrutiny due to the recent birth of Ivy Blue, the daughter of celebrities Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. City Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the private hospital's right to rent suites.
Related Articles on Hospital Amenities:
More Boston Area Hospitals Offering Hotel-Style AmenitiesRole of Amenities in Hospital Care: Q&A With Dr. John Romley, Co-Author of Study on Patient Amenities in Hospital Care
Study Examines Role of Patient Perks in Market Share, Healthcare Costs