Pulse
Briefs
HCMC Says No
Step into the cafeteria at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and you can’t help but notice the large, green signs telling patrons that the hospital’s café and patient wards are now trans-fat-free.
In February, the hospital became the first in Minnesota to eliminate artificial trans fat from the food it serves—an accomplishment that was several years in the making.
According to Michael Belzer, M.D., HCMC’s medical director, the push for making cafeteria food more healthful originally came from Paul Pentel, M.D., an internal medicine physician who is passionate about preventive medicine. “He was an initial champion of hospitals leading the way for having healthy food alternatives in their facilities, eliminating sugary pop drinks and sugared fruit juices, and labeling the calorie and fat content of foods in the cafeteria,” Belzer says.
Last year, Belzer approached HCMC’s administration and Bill Marks, director of food and nutrition services, about making the hospital’s cafeteria a more healthful place.
Marks took up the challenge and began looking for ways to increase fruit and vegetable offerings and to cut out artificial trans fat. He initiated a review of all of the 900-plus food items the medical center purchases each week and was able to find replacements or modify recipes for most of the 130 products that were found to contain artificial trans fat. Products that could not be replaced or altered were taken off the menu.
Since the hospital became a trans-fat-free zone, Marks says he’s heard praise from patients, guests, and staff. He’s also been contacted by other hospitals that are interested in making the switch.
Belzer, who next would like to see sugary drinks removed from vending machines at HCMC, says it’s up to hospitals and the physicians who work there to lead the way in promoting healthful eating. “You want your health care professionals to model responsible, healthy behaviors,” he says. “And having fatty foods and sugared pop and French fries in hospital cafeterias sends the wrong message to our citizens, our patients, and our patients’ families about healthy lifestyles.”—Kim Kiser
Doctor Disclosures
In response to growing concern about the influence of drug and medical device company money on medicine, a Minnesota health system and a medical device manufacturer recently decided to shine a light on their own practices.
In January, Park Nicollet Health Services became the first health system in Minnesota to publicly disclose relationships between its clinicians and vendors. So far, more than 50 Park Nicollet practitioners have provided details about money they’ve earned from speaking and consulting arrangements with drug companies, device manufacturers, and other businesses that provide products or services to Park Nicollet. Details are available at www.tinyurl.com/cy5frs.
In February, Fridley-based Medtronic agreed to make pubic how much it pays physicians for consulting and other services after settling a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that the company paid physicians to use its products. Starting in March 2011, Medtronic will disclose information about its relationships with physicians who receive more than $5,000 from the company in consulting fees, royalties, and honoraria.