Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Managing a food service program in a healthcare community can be…challenging. With the rising cost of food, constant staff turnover, poor food quality, and rising resident expectations, some senior living and behavioral health communities just want managing food service off their plate altogether. In fact, research shows that 98% of hospitals are either actively considering adopting outsourcing or have already done it.
Healthcare communities outsource their food service contract to reduce costs and give their core medical staff more time to provide high-quality care to residents.
Is a Food Service Contract Expensive?
Food service management companies usually get better quality products at a lower cost because of their relationships with food purchasing groups and the fact that they’re most likely buying in bulk. Like Culinary Services Group (CSG), some companies will even tell you exactly how much your raw food, supplies, labor, and management fees will be for the duration of your contract.
Our team also partners with Premier Inc. to help communities reduce costs even further. With Premier’s Continuum of Care through CSG, clients get the same price breaks from over 2,000 suppliers as we do! By taking advantage of Premier’s US Foods contract alongside the services provided by CSG, communities see immediate cost savings on food service purchases.
Outsourcing can also cut hiring expenses. It can be costly for your community to constantly recruit, interview, hire, and train food service employees, but food service management companies specialize in hiring for those positions. For example, CSG helps clients find, train, and retain the right people. Our team ensures all staff meet federal and state regulations, go through a comprehensive onboarding program, and have opportunities to continue education, develop, and grow. We’ll assess staffing patterns and workflows to make kitchens more efficient and cost-effective without reducing quality.
Outsourcing Shouldn’t Be One-Size Fits All
One of the hesitations that a healthcare community might have when it comes to outsourcing is that the food service management company might not be able to meet its unique needs. Sometimes that’s true. Large food service management companies have set menus and processes, and it’s difficult for them to make changes for each community they work with.
It’s important to find a flexible company that’s willing to learn your needs on day one. At CSG, we work with communities from the beginning to set clear objectives for what food service should look like. We listen to each client’s vision and incorporate it into a customized service plan specific to that community.
We’ll also conduct a financial review and on-site assessment to understand where we can reduce unnecessary expenses while improving service quality. Plus, every client gains access to our network of Registered Dietitians who can provide customized nutrition support and guidance for a community’s on-site team.
Clients also receive customized menus and access to our menu planning software that integrates seamlessly with most EMR systems. This allows us to ensure accuracy by tracking likes, dislikes, allergens, and diet orders with ease.
Don’t Forget to Read the Contract
Along with offering one-size-fits-all menus, some food service management companies also offer a universal contract for every client. And that might be just what some clients need, but we know that every community has its own goals. When vetting companies to outsource your dining program, ask them about the types of contracts they offer. Are there multiple plans? Can contracts be customized? What’s included in each one?
While CSG’s contracts can be customized to fit any community’s needs, most of our options fit into three category types: Full-Service, Management & Procurement Only, and Management Only. All contract types have distinct advantages:
-
- Full-Service Contract: This is exactly what it sounds like. We handle everything for you. We’ll recruit and hire for management roles and hourly positions, and we’re responsible for all wages, taxes, and benefits associated with your dining team. Since these employees work in your community or hospital, we follow any pre-employment requirements and policies you have, like background checks and physicals. We’ll also order and maintain raw food and ingredients. You’ll receive menus developed specifically for your community that consider regional and resident preferences.
- Management & Procurement Only Contract: This offers more flexibility to communities that need additional oversight but still want to keep hourly food-service personnel on their payroll. It’s an ideal option when there is a union labor force or when administrators want to retain loyal workers on their payroll. CSG provides onsite management personnel like a Food Service Director, Chef Manager, and Registered Dietitian to oversee your kitchen. This gives you access to the same support network, technology, and tools as a full-service contract, but the hourly staff remains on your payroll. Our management team provides CSG’s training to all dining staff and implements new workflows and coaching to help the operation become more efficient, safer, and compliant. For this type of contract, CSG is responsible for ordering all raw food and ingredients, allowing your community to take advantage of our group purchasing pricing. We’ll also provide custom menus tailored to the unique needs of your community.
- Management Only Contract: This provides the additional oversight of management personnel like a Food Service Director, Chef Manager, and Registered Dietitian while allowing your organization to retain its hourly kitchen staff. It’s another good option when your organization has a union labor force. While the hourly staff remains on your payroll, they still benefit from CSG’s training, workflows, and coaching to create a safer and more efficient working environment. This is an ideal solution if you already have a food procurement contract, an excellent working relationship with a food distributor, or receive state reimbursements on food costs. We can create menus that incorporate the products available through your food distributor.
What Are Your Goals?
Outsourcing food service lets leadership teams focus on other needs and invest the cost savings back into the community and its residents. If you’re considering outsourcing, you need a partner that understands your values, unique goals, and doesn’t try to put you in a one-size-fits-all program. Contact Culinary Services Group today to learn more.
