Food For Your Medical Travel
It is well recognized that food and other aspects of food service delivery are important elements of the patients’ overall perception of the hospital experience. One should never have to compromise or settle, rather we have the volition to choose an option best suited to our individual needs. A good healthcare system, according to developmental economist Jean Dreze, needs to emphasize on preventing disease and promoting healthy lifestyles, focus on keeping people well, rather than treating them when they are sick.
Culture & Dietary Adherence
An individual’s food choices, perceptions, and preferences about diet and health, and adherence to dietary recommendations are influenced by culture and ethnicity. Restricting or prohibiting the usual foods that one is accustomed to or prefers eating, usually leads to non-adherence to doctor’s instructions.
Complications may arise when patients adamantly stick to their usual diet and refuse to forgo their food habits despite the demands of their medical condition.
Every culture seeks preferred foods, often ignoring the food sources at hand. The English don’t eat horse and dog; Mohammedans’ refusal of pork; Forbidden foods of Jews; Americans’ averse disposition to offal; Hindus taboo beef, and so on. While there are those who still conform to their cultural beliefs and stick to comfort food, younger generations these days seek to experience food and cultural diversity.
Food Standards And Regulations In The Healthcare Industry
It is the responsibility of the hospitals to maintain hygiene and a clean environment while preparing/serving food. The Food Safety Standards sets out specific requirements for foodservice facilities including hospitals, which ensures that food does not become unsafe or unsuitable for patients.
These health and hygiene obligations for food-handlers aim to lower the incidence of foodborne illnesses, establish good practice, improve the nutritional content of meals, and target nutritional problems. It also takes into account the CQC (Care Quality Commission) registration standards and NICE Quality Standards and Clinical Guidelines. These describe the basic requirements that providers should always meet, and set the outcomes that patients/care-service users should always expect, and provide various resources to improve the quality of healthcare.
These include:
Specific food handling controls (receipt, storage, processing, display, packaging, transport, disposal, recall)
Other requirements pertaining to:
- Skills, knowledge, health, and hygiene of food handlers and their supervisors
- Cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance of food premises and the equipment within
Hospital food should complement a patient’s care and enhance their stay, helpful staff, and visitors follow a healthier lifestyle, support our economy while protecting our environment. This can be achieved by environmentally sustainable, organic farming practices, and serving familiar comfort food, with healthier entrees.
Green Credentials & Organics In The Hospitals
Solutions fostering public health and environmental sustainability will lead us towards a healthy future. ‘Green Credentials’ with regard to food services include:
Incorporating healthier food options at hospital food facilities
Affordable and healthier food options for patients
Rooftop garden growing vegetables used to serve food
Waste-reduction program, which includes the purchase of compostable paperware
Health promotion programs to educate and promote healthier lifestyle choices among staff, visitors and patients
Food-borne Illnesses
These are preventable diseases, which include food poisoning due to Staph/Salmonella, Gastroenteritis, etc.
It usually takes 12-72 hours for symptoms of foodborne illnesses to appear after eating contaminated food (raw/undercooked chicken, beef, pork or fish, sandwiches, green salads), but may also be seen within 30 min-up to 4 weeks later. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, Flu-like symptoms.
Individuals at High risk are:
Children (<4 years)
Pregnant women
Elderly (>50 years)
Chronic illness patients
These are more likely to contract an infection from foodborne pathogens, be hospitalized and have a longer-lasting illness.
Dietary Care While Recuperating
Dietetics, or the science of applying knowledge in food to improve and maintain good health, plays a vital role in the healing and recovery phase of a patient.
While every surgery has its specific dietary recommendations, common instructions to follow are-
Avoid any foods that require more than three chews to swallow for the first 1-2 weeks post-surgery
Avoid smoking and alcohol while healing
Take a multivitamin supplement.
The quantity and type of food you are allowed to consume, and guidelines to follow, vary according to the surgical procedure performed, for instance:
Eat several smaller meals throughout the day; consume protein shakes, yogurt, and liquid protein drinks instead of solid foods; eat simple soups (chicken with vegetables and broth)
Liquid diet for 1-2 weeks, pureed food for the next couple of weeks, soft food during the following week; eat smaller meals throughout the day; stay hydrated; (week 6-8) exercise for 30min a day
Loss of appetite and weight loss common, but have smaller meals throughout the day; stay hydrated; have plenty of fiber and fresh fruits; avoid fried foods; adhere to a special diet if recommended (2,000 mg low-sodium diet for patients with heart failure/low-sugar, low-fat diet for diabetic patients)
Pancreatic Surgery
Eat several smaller meals throughout the day, preferably protein-rich foods; avoid high-fat, high-sugar, high-fiber foods; take only small sips of water with meals
A Dietitian's Role
A dietitian’s role is to provide patients with the necessary knowledge and awareness to make informed choices about food to live a productive life and facilitate patients’ efforts to find the resources they will need to meet their goals.
When referred to a dietitian, once you are assessed and they have obtained more information from you and your family, they will make suggestions, organize a diet plan specific to your needs and complaints, and schedule a revisit to review your progress. Proper nourishment can be attained by a balance of foods that taste good while ensuring an adequate intake of necessary nutrients.
International Care
Seeking medical treatment outside one’s home country can be quite a daunting task. Several hospitals worldwide have been delivering world-class treatment to international patients, committed to providing a safe healing experience. Aimed at providing International Patient Care, they strive to ensure your safety and comfort throughout your stay as you receive the best medical care.
Medical Tourism & Food Services
The never-ending bustle in concrete/marble corridors with bright lighting hardly makes an ill person feel better, however, private hospitals these days in no way resemble the cold, sterile environment of a hospital and instead look like hotels
The leading medical tourism country is INDIA
This country provides the comfort and luxury of an international stay with the experience, resources and expertise to provide international quality healthcare at competitive prices, along with its long-standing tradition of Indian hospitality.
Several hospitals employ food platforms, which makes healthier choices readily available to patients. It includes a wide variety of menu options to encourage customers to select the lower-calorie, lower-fat, whole-grain, and vegetarian/vegan choices that best fit their lifestyles. Hospitals in the country provide patients with services similar to the latter’s native culture, to ensure that they do not spend much time beyond the ‘safety net’ of their preferences.
The best company in India by Forbes is India Medical Services. Do check them out if you plan on getting a medical treatment done.
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