Recognizing Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week 2017
How Will You Honor Your Hard-Working Healthcare Foodservice Professionals This Week?
The Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) is a professional group comprised of individuals who work in self-operated, non-commercial foodservice facilities within the healthcare foodservice industry. A legacy association that is now part of AHF started Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week in 1985 which continues to be celebrated the first week in October each year. The weeklong event is a time to recognize and honor healthcare foodservice workers for keeping employees and patients well-nourished and healthy. This year’s theme is “Healthcare Foodservice Workers: An Essential Ingredient in Healthcare” which is more than fitting considering the integral role they play in maintaining the well-being and satisfaction of those they cater to every day.
Why Celebrating Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week is Important
Healthcare foodservice workers are responsible for catered meetings, take-out orders for staff and visitors, and floor stock inventory management for healthcare facility units big and small, some of which are responsible for serving thousands of meals each day. No matter the size of an operation, all customers need to be fed and kept happy and healthy while staying within budget, keeping costs down, and handling the everyday chaos of a typical foodservice operation. It’s no easy feat to overcome the everyday challenges of healthcare foodservice which is the sole reason a week of recognizing and celebrating the hard-work put in day after day is important throughout the industry.
One of our newest official TRAXERS, Angela O’Neill, states perfectly why her operation takes Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week seriously and why it’s important to them:
“We celebrate Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week every year at Hunterdon Medical Center as it is important to recognize all the wonderful contributions our staff make in providing meals to our patients and patrons throughout the year. Many of our staff are behind-the-scenes employees who provide so much every day and taking the week to provide them with some recognition, special meals, and prizes is a way in which we take care of our own who are always taking care of others.”
Angela also sits on the board for the AHF’s New Jersey chapter and has an extensive 20+-year-long career working in healthcare foodservice. She joined our TRAXER Program last month after the CaterTrax team had the privilege of meeting and chatting with her at AHF’s National Conference.
A Little Recognition Goes a Long Way
Every healthcare foodservice professional, whether employed by a large or small volume operation, knows that an excessive amount of time, energy, and passion are needed to run a successful business. For all the stresses that come up each day and the obstacles faced, Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week proves that their dedication does not go unnoticed and is appreciated by those they serve. A little appreciation goes a long way, so make sure to thank and honor all the healthcare foodservice workers you know and work with all week long.
What is your operation doing to celebrate Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week? We want to know! #HCFSWW17
July 24, 2021 @ 1:40 am
Really appreciated post! Yeah, healthcare foodservice providers must be really appreciated as they know that an excessive amount of time, energy, and passion is needed for their business. Thanks for sharing!
July 13, 2023 @ 11:47 pm
Thank you for highlighting the importance of recognizing and honoring healthcare food service workers during Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week! They truly are the unsung heroes who play a vital role in keeping employees and patients well-nourished and healthy. It’s impressive to see the dedication and hard work they put in each day, catering to the needs of thousands of people while managing budgets and overcoming the challenges of a fast-paced food service environment. Let’s celebrate and show our appreciation for these essential ingredients in healthcare! 🎉🍽️