Savor the Change

Good morning.

Today, I want to follow up on a topic I talked about in a November VC Notes that was also covered in a newsletter article this week: Aramark will officially take over the Medical Center’s food services at midnight tonight.

I’m excited about this change and based on the comments you’ve sent into the VC Notes inbox, you’ve also been looking forward to a new food services vendor. Aramark has told us that changes in menu options, variety, availability and customer service are planned for patient food and cafeteria/retail locations. You and our patients deserve the highest quality food and as easy a process as possible to get it.

As I previously stated in the Nov. 1, 2024 VC Notes: “We expect the company will meet our needs, so much so that we included language in this new contract that can impact how much the vendor is paid based on performance. If they don’t meet some of the metrics we’ve set as baselines, it could impact their payment.”

Here’s some of what Aramark has in store for us and patients in the coming months:

• A partnership with local celebrity chef Nick Wallace on a culinary enhancement program
• Mobile ordering for Starbucks, the Student Union and the main cafeteria
• Expanding retail hours by launching a 24/7 “micromarket” 
• Restaurants from the local area periodically take over the new Food Lab Station in the main and Student Union cafeterias
• Enhanced patient food menu with more options, including made-from-scratch meals

As was stated in the news article, there will be a little disruption – not to patient food – as Aramark takes over operations:

• Friday, Jan. 31 from 2:30 p.m. to midnight:
  • Limited food options
  • One register will be open at main cafeteria
  • No cash can be accepted, only credit cards and payroll deduction
• Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2:
  • Concise, streamlined menu

A full menu at each retail location will be in effect starting Monday, Feb. 3.

Let’s give it a little time, though, for the bumps in the road to get smoothed out. This is a huge responsibility, and there will inevitably be some unforeseen issues that will need to be addressed.

After Aramark has had some time to get up and running, my ask of you is to speak up about what you don’t like AND what you like. We need to hear both sides of the comment coin, not just complaints. If you have feedback, send it to George Pressley, executive director of health system clinical operations, at gpressley@umc.edu.

I anticipate – and expect – that once Aramark has all their operations fully up and running, we’ll notice improvements within all food services areas. As I said before, proper nutrition is essential to positive patient outcomes, important for an effective workforce and absolutely needed for effective learning. We are committed to food services being at the level that it needs to be, so we can focus on our responsibility of building A Healthier Mississippi.