Food for health: how delivery systems improve patient outcomes

The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is one of the UAE’s premier luxury healthcare facilities. For nearly a decade, it has excelled in providing high-quality treatment and first-class facilities and amenities, including exceptional food offerings for patients. Khalil Abu Sair, senior director of operations, shares how Burlodge has contributed to maintaining these high standards.

When opened its doors in 2015, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, became one of the region’s prestige healthcare facilities. A multi-specialty luxury hospital, it is part of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the US, an independent, not-for-profit academic medical center engaged in patient care, research, and education.

The establishment of a premier facility in Abu Dhabi resulted from a 2006 agreement between Mubadala Investment Company and the Cleveland Clinic, aimed at supporting the local government's Economic Vision 2030, which prioritizes the development of a world-class healthcare sector. The outcome is a sprawling 93,000 square-meter complex featuring five clinical floors, three diagnostic and treatment levels, and 13 floors dedicated to critical and acute inpatient units. Poised for potential expansion to 490 patient beds, the hospital has 26 operating rooms, six cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology rooms, and numerous post[1]anesthesia care units. There are 340 doctors and 2,918 nurses and other workers, all dedicated to delivering more than 50 medical and surgical specialties. The hospital is comprised of 15 institutes: Heart, Vascular & Thoracic, Neurology, Digestive Disease, Eye, Respiratory, Critical Care, Oncology, Surgical Subspecialties, Medical Subspecialties, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Imaging, Quality & Patient Safety and research and education.

Behind the medical facilities, however, lie many other critical needs. Among the most important of these is the need to provide high-quality catering services with fresh, nutritious food. In foodservice, the standards must be just as high as the quality of medical care. Currently, the hospital provides meals for approximately 400 patients and over 2,000 caregivers daily. In addition, it offers banqueting and event services, which can accommodate up to 600 additional diners.

“The foodservice operations at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are indeed extensive and cover a wide range of areas within the hospital,” says Khalil Abu Sair, Cleveland Clinic’s senior director operations. “We have 13 floors of inpatient units with approximately 400 beds, plus outpatient clinics, perioperative and procedural areas, specialized patient areas such as VIP and royal clinics and floors, as well as executive health and global patient lounges.”

“Additionally, foodservice also caters to caregivers, and we have banquet and conference facilities including an auditorium, ballrooms, and meeting rooms in the hospital,” he adds. “Overall, the foodservice operations are designed to meet the diverse needs of patients, visitors, and staff, and to ensure that high-quality food and beverage services support our overall healthcare mission.”

All in the delivery

To ensure high-quality food for inpatients and staff, the hospital partnered with meal delivery specialist Burlodge. With extensive experience providing food trolleys, carts, and trays for hospitals, schools, and prisons, Burlodge has been a leader in the field since its founding in 1984. Their team of food professionals and solution-driven engineers understands the daily operational details necessary for success.

“Due to an increase in patient count, there was a need to enhance patient experience with our unique à la carte menu and to maintain food temperature and safety,” explains Abu Sair. “We identified Burlodge to better meet the needs of our patients regarding both food safety and ease of delivery.” Burlodge has supplied a total of 12 Logiko Duo heated and refrigerated tray delivery trolleys, each with a capacity of 24 trays, and two Logiko Uno units, each with a capacity of 12 trays. They are among the lightest and shortest trolleys on the market, and their design features a built-in air convected heating and cooling system. They are specifically for cook-serve and room service applications.

At the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, these units are crucial for maintaining strict temperature control, essential for both food safety and quality. They also provide the efficiency and reliability needed for intensive use in a healthcare setting. “They are essential tools in delivering safe and quality healthcare through nutrition,” says Abu Sair.

 “Burlodge units are designed to integrate well with hospital workflows, making it easier for staff to handle and distribute meals efficiently. This enhances the overall operational efficiency of our foodservice department. It allows us to be flexible with patient procedures and meal timings. By standardizing meal delivery processes with Burlodge equipment, our operation benefits from improved workflow efficiency. Staff can focus more on patient care rather than logistics related to food delivery, leading to smoother operations and enhanced patient experience.”

With its adaptable solutions and comprehensive after-sales support, Burlodge has played a crucial role in reducing patient complaints, improving temperature and quality scores, and integrating seamlessly into the hospital's foodservice operation. Details matter in healthcare, and Burlodge understands that.

- ALIWORLD, The Ali Group Magazine, October 2024, Issue 12, pages 42-43