Sentara food services team named Morrison’s Regional Account of the Year for 2023
The Food Services team at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) received the prestigious honor as the Regional Account of the Year by Morrison Healthcare in an awards presentation held at the medical center on November 21.
Morrison Healthcare is a national leader in health care food and nutrition support services that partners with more than 975 hospitals and health care systems in the U.S., including Sentara Health.
Food Services managers and staff were presented the award during a celebratory lunch that included Morrison representatives, SNVMC leadership, and Sentara Health President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Matheis in attendance.
SNVMC Food Services team was named Regional Account of the Year based on several criteria, including a priority on safety, being employee focused, financial stewardship, patient satisfaction, and food and nutrition services excellence.
“I want to congratulate you and thank you. Since I’ve been here with you at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, I can tell you that I have been extremely impressed with the way you all work as a team. You support each other and you come together to take care of our patients. It's that teamwork that makes you and our hospital so successful,” said SNVMC President Jeff Joyner.
In 2023, SNVMC scored in the 91st percentile on patient satisfaction scores rating food service, an increase of 10 points over the previous year. Additionally, through strategies that included inventory management, effective cross utilization of products, staff training, and eliminating precut produce, the team improved revenue while saving on cost of goods and labor bringing a total savings of $464,000 to the hospital.
“One of the most significant things about this year is that you had some turnover at the director level, and you still delivered,” said Morrison Healthcare Division President Mara Whitesell. “That is such an example of the strength of your management team here and of your frontline associates who are working hard every day. You didn't let those challenges derail you. You owned it and you continue to deliver to your patients and those you serve.”
Whitesell added, “Sentara Northern was chosen out of 40 Morrison accounts in the mid-Atlantic region. This prestigious award is given annually to an account that demonstrates operational excellence in key areas, including patient satisfaction and associate engagement.”
“We’re honored by this recognition and share a commitment to doing our best every single day. I have a phenomenal team who really understand the impact they have on patient care. They care about the work they do, and it shows," said Misty Bonavita, senior director of food & nutrition services at SNVMC.