Conn. hospital upgrades patient experience with 'luxury' family suites

Photo courtesy of Stamford Hospital: Corridor leading to Stamford Hospital's new ICU

Forget about sleeping on an uncomfortable pull-out sleep sofa or chair. Family members who don't want to leave their loved ones alone during an overnight stay at a Connecticut hospital can now opt for an upgrade and sleep in an adjoining private room more like one found at a luxury hotel.

Stamford Hospital’s new “signature suites” will become available in November and are meant to replace hotel stays for family members, but they come at a steep price, reports the Stamford Advocate. The hospital is still determining final prices, but spokesman Craig Andrews told the newspaper they will likely cost somewhere between $200 and $2,400 a night.

The 15 private suites were built as part of the hospital’s new $450 million facility and will be available to families of patients who receive surgical, oncological and other medical care. Each suite is furnished with a bed, desk, refrigerator, ceramic sink and floor-to-ceiling windows, according to the publication. Family members can also choose meal plans and the types of sheets and towels they want.

“The whole concept of the way we designed this hospital is having the most restful experience and environment, which in turn helps patients heal faster and get back to their lives more quickly,” Andrews told the Advocate.

The luxury suites are part of the hospital’s aim to improve the patient and family experience, according to its website. As part of its commitment to patient-centered care, the hospital says it intends to exceed the “physical, mental and spiritual needs of all” who come through their doors.

More hospitals are looking to the hospitality industry to improve customer satisfaction and help compete in the marketplace. Some, like Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in Detroit, offer patients  massages and other spa treatments in their private rooms and 24-hour room service for meals. Despite the high marks patients give to the added amenities, some economists fear the hotel-like accommodations just add unnecessary costs to the nation’s overall $2.7 million healthcare bill