Setting the table for impactful culinary careers and extraordinary care
April 2020
At Northwell Health, our culinary departments are built on providing the same standard of service that’s expected in the care we give our patients. With our hospitality-driven approach and our professionally-trained culinary staff, the work we do in the kitchen is essential in our quest to deliver patient satisfaction and redefine health care as a whole. One of the hospitals leading the charge is Huntington Hospital.
Teamwork is imperative, and the staff at Huntington Hospital thrive on teamwork, passion, and dedication. Just ask Sarah Ohlinger, Director of Food and Nutrition and Chief Clinical Dietitian at Huntington Hospital, “We truly believe that when you are surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.” When it comes to elevating care and improving patient outcomes, it’s the work of the collective that makes all the difference.
Our culinary teams work closely together to directly influence the course of our patients’ journey towards better health. Highly skilled dietitians collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide our patients with the latest evidence-based research to assist in improving patient outcomes. The dietitians then work alongside the chefs, diet techs and management team to execute new recipes and ensure that they meet guidelines for therapeutic diets. Then it’s time for the chefs and cooks to bring these recipes to life.
However, the work of the team doesn’t end there. Diet clerks are the voice of the department, handling hundreds of calls a day, and speaking directly to patients to obtain their orders. Our food service workers are the face of our department, delivering meals to patients in under 25 minutes with a smile and a kind word.
Northwell’s commitment to advancing the industry is evident in Huntington Hospital. In just three years, Huntington Hospital went from being ranked in the 16th percentile to being ranked in the 93rd percentile in the country, per the Press Ganey Quality of Food Scores., There’s so much that contributes to that success.
For example:
- Replacing dinnerware with bone china and high-quality flatware.
- Using freshly sourced, seasonal and locally grown ingredients whenever possible.
- Conducting meal rounds on a weekly basis to meet with patients to understand how we can best serve them.
- Being the first in our network to convert to an In-Room Dining model similar to hotel room service.
With meals like homemade blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast and roasted cauliflower flatbread pizza for dinner, it’s no wonder our patients’ faces light up when their meals are delivered.
Providing support during the COVID-19 pandemic with food and nutrition
When it came time to modify the dining experience in the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Huntington was ready to join the fight. Clinical Registered Dietitians work daily with the interdisciplinary team to optimize nutrition support for increasingly complex critical COVID patients who are fighting the virus. This is especially vital as research indicates that adequate nutrition can decrease the number of vent-dependent days and the mortality rate. The team transitioned to a modified meal delivery service to limit disruptions to the nursing staff. They worked together to create an abridged COVID menu to help lower staffing needs while accounting for the nutritional needs of our patients during potential shortages of enteral supplies.
This passion for using food to heal goes beyond the meals delivered to our patients. Chefs worked daily to make free homemade healthy snacks to fuel caregivers while they work on the front lines. Get well cards have been added to patients’ meal trays in hopes to help brighten their days and let them know that Food & Nutrition is available to provide support. When Meals on Wheels came to a halt during COVID-19, Huntington’s Food & Nutrition and the Quality Department filled the gap with the launch of “Mobile Meals,” a program where volunteers deliver meals produced and packaged by the culinary team to continue a life-sustaining service to homebound senior citizens in the community.
“Our team recognizes the important role food plays in the healing and recovery process,” says Sarah. “Food can help heal, and in the hospital setting, it can comfort. We are proud to serve our patients, caregivers and community members.”
If you feel you have the qualities needed to lead a fulfilling career in culinary services at Northwell Health, apply today.
Northwell’s Employee and Family Assistance Program: Taking care of our team members
April 2020
At Northwell Health, we’re committed to creating benefits that are as unique as our team members. As New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, we have more than 72,000 team members working to ensure we deliver compassionate care to our patients and communities. Our benefits help us to deliver that same compassionate care back to our team and their families in and out of the workplace.
One of these unique benefits is the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP offers complimentary confidential counseling services to employees and their benefits-eligible family members. These services provide short-term, goal-directed coaching and counseling designed to help resolve problems that impact work and home life.
The EAP provides counseling through in-person services, both at their main office and through a dedicated EAP team member at each of our hospitals. These one-on-one sessions help guide team members through specific issues they may be facing, whether it’s dealing with a stressful professional or personal challenge. Phone and telehealth services are also available to help support our team members.
Working in healthcare also means the potential of working through critical times. As our healthcare heroes deliver care through the COVID-19 outbreak, the EAP is there for continuous support. Currently the EAP is offering emotional support and referral services to all employees. Through partnership with the Behavioral Health Service Line, Wellness, and Human Resources, they’re ensuring that all team members get the support, services, and information they need to navigate through this crisis.
“Problems are a part of life,” says Margaret Kuzminski, the EAP program manager. “But unresolved issues can lead to a crisis that may affect an employee’s health, home life and/or job performance. The EAP offers goal-directed assistance and sometimes all it takes is just a phone call to help them get back on track.”
And the benefits go beyond just one-on-one meetings. Team members can participate in educational programs at The Center for Learning and Innovation or customized programs on-site that provide guidance on a variety of topics. Additionally, the EAP offers Northwell supervisors and managers programs to help them mitigate potential stresses in the workplace, such as interpersonal workplace concerns, recognizing team members in need of help, and developing training strategies.
Are you Made for a career at Northwell Health? Explore jobs and apply today.
Five tips to ace your next virtual interview
April 2020
As times change the needs of the companies do as well. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in companies relying on online platforms to conduct candidate interviews. Recruiters actively utilize video conferencing now more than ever to engage and reach a more diverse, global group of prospective hires. For you, the prospective hire, it can give you an advantage if and only if you take it as seriously as you would an actual in-person interview. Northwell Health has prepared a number of tips to help you master the virtual interview so you’re confident and prepared to take on the next step in your professional career.
First things first, considering virtual interviews happen online, it is essential that your online connection is strong. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of explaining why you’re the perfect candidate and the recruiter is met with grainy, pixelated images of you, or worst case, a dropped call. To avoid this, test your equipment beforehand. It may even be helpful to have a friend try a mock interview just so you’re aware of what the person on the other end of the call experiences throughout the process.
Now that you’re all set with your technology, what do you wear? It’s best to dress as if you’re walking into an actual office to conduct your interview. Dressing professionally isn’t only expected, but it also shows the recruiter that though you are home, you made an extra effort to make sure you made a quality first impression. Trust us, that goes a long way.
On to where you take the call. Most interviewees prefer to take the call from home, that way they are able to have more control of their environment than if they were at a coffee shop or even a library. If you do field the call from someplace else outside of your home, be sure it’s someplace quiet. You would hate to repeat yourself for your recruiter because they couldn’t hear you over a coffee grinder or the latest music from your second favorite band playing in the background.
Find the perfect spot. As much as it may be tempting to be as comfortable as possible seeing as most likely you’ll be taking this call from home, sitting at a desk or a table is much better than sitting on your bed. A tabletop provides the feel as if you’re sitting across from the person asking you questions and even helps keep your posture focused and your mindset on what’s in front of you.
Now that you’ve tested your equipment, figured out what to wear, where to go, and where to sit, it’s time to make sure you’re prepared. And though this process may be a bit different from what you may or may not be used to, it’s important you treat this the same as you would a regular interview. Come into the interview with questions you may have about the organization, a brief elevator pitch about your experience, how you feel you can add value to the team, and what you’re hoping to get out of your experience altogether. The more you’ve prepared, the more relaxed and confident you’ll be.
Follow these tips and set yourself up for success on your next call on others in the future. And if you’re interested in redefining health, Northwell Health has plenty of opportunities. Be sure to take a look at careers by clicking here.
