Business Commons^™

Customer And Food Item Selection Forecasting In A Hospital Cafeteria, M. Sue Davis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

For many years various types of forecast models have reportedly been used in hospital foodservice systems to estimate the patient census level or meal demand for menu items. None of these reports have dealt with the application of forecast models in a hospital cafeteria setting. The purpose of this study was to test selected forecast models in a hospital setting to determine the one that most accurately predicted the number of customers utilizing the cafeteria on a particular day, and the number of servings of a specific food item that was utilized at selected meals. Historical data was used to …

Labor Time Analysis Of Vegetarian Entrees, Nilsa Valles

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The objectives of this research study were to: (1) determine the total labor time by work function in the production of eight vegetarian entrees, (2) ascertain total labor cost in the production of the selected entrees to determine total cost of entree, and (3) compare labor time data from four of the entrees selected with data from a research project conducted earlier.

Continuous time study techniques were used to collect labor time data in the production of the eight vegetarian entrees. Data collected were processed and tabulated on an Apple II computer system. Actual time expended in each work function …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Computer Systems In Community Hospital Food Service, Beverly Kittle

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Cost containment has always been a major concern to managers. Therefore, any system which decreases costs by reducing labor time is given serious evaluation.

A five week comparison was made between financial record keeping by the manual method and by the computerized method. A continuous time study was utilized to make this comparison.

Over the five weeks, an average overall time savings of 245 minutes for the computerized versus the manual method was observed. The net savings to the institution was 223 minutes per week which translates to approximately $140.00 per month over a 5 year period.

The rapid payback …

Quality Assurance In Hospital Food Service, Carol Henry, Kathleen Zolber, David Abbey, Lydia Sonnenberg, Bertram Connell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The implementation and maintenance of standards and procedures relevant to quality nutritional service in the hospital food service department is essential to effect optimal patient care. This research was conducted to determine the extent to which selected standards (activity task functions) relevant to quality assurance were being performed by hospital food service departments. The results indicated that only 14 percent of the departments performed more than 75 percent of the activity task functions. A compliance score consisting of the number of tasks performed by each food service department indicated statistically that as the years of employment increased the compliance score …

Distribution Of Dietary Labor Time By Work Function, Joelle Riederer Elliston

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The distribution of dietary labor time was studied in two phases at a university hospital. The objectives in Phase 1 were: (1) to determine by work sampling, labor time and cost by position in twenty work functions of a hospital food service system and (2) to compare data from this study with data from a previous labor time study in the same hospital, utilizing the same Gred sampling methodology. In Phase 2 of this study utilizing the same Gred sampling the objective was (3) to determine v/hat effect the incorporation of a materials handling ingredient procedure had on the distribution …

Utilization Of Dietetic Technicians In Hospitals, Elmer Beck

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

There is a shortage of educationally qualified dietetic technician personnel in the health care industry. The job opportunities for dietetic technicians exceed the supply. Because of this shortage and the need to deliver high quality nutritional care to individuals and groups, dietitians should function at the highest level of professional competency. To accomplish this goal requires delegating certain routine task functions to the dietetic technician.

The purpose of this research was to determine the degree of change between 1973 to 1977 in the willingness of dietitians to delegate task function to the dietetic technician. The instrument used to collect data …

Performance Appraisal In Hospital Dietary Departments, Mary C. Law

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The specific objectives of this research were to (1) identify the principal characteristics and functions of performance appraisal programs utilized in hospital dietary departments, (2) determine the ten major factors in performance appraisal as indicated by the hospital dietary department directors as well as by dietetic interns and the factors indicated in the review of literature, and (3) develop an evaluation form for performance appraisal of hospital dietary department employees utilizing criteria obtained from (1) and (2).

Three hundred general, short term, nonprofit hospitals were included into the study. Questionnaires were mailed to three hospitals which were classified according to …

Delegation Of Task Functions By Dietitians To Dietetic Technicians, James Lumsden

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Dietetics has been identified as one of the professions in which there is a shortage of qualified personnel. The need to delegate selected task functions to extend professional skills and contain costs has been recognized in many professions faced with a manpower shortage.

This research was done to determine the degree to which dietitians will utilize dietetic technicians in the role proposed by the American Dietetic Association. A questionnaire was the instrument utilized to collect data from the 197 randomly selected hospitals in the continental United States. Task functions identified in the proposed job descriptions for the dietetic technician in …

The Effect Of A Training Program On Job Satisfaction Among Hospital Dietary Supportive Personnel, Alice E. Calkins

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Steadily rising labor costs are forcing health-care institutions to give increased attention to meeting manpower needs. Dietary service management is recognizing the need for employees to be satisfied with their work, as well as the difficulty of providing adequate training for each employee. A study of the effect of a training program on job satisfaction should provide information relevant to more effective planning for the training and development of human resources within the hospital dietary service.

The purpose of this research was to determine the level of job satisfaction among hospital dietary supportive personnel; relate it to such factors as …

Work Measurement And Costs Of Selected Hospital Diets, William M. Fields

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This research project was done to determine, by work function, the production labor time expended by employees involved in processing of general and selected modified diets and to determine the processing labor and food costs of these diets in the food service of a short-term general hospital. Work sampling was the technique used to collect data. Random observations were made for a six-day period utilizing the GRED's theory. Work function activities were recorded for only those employees whose work included processing of food. The number of times each work function activity was recorded as related to the total recordings was …

Lecture And Audiovisual Self-Instruction Methods For Food Systems In-Service Education, Bertrum C. Connell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The specific objectives of this research were to (1) develop an audiovisual self-instruction series with corresponding lectures for in-service education of hospital food service personnel, and (2) test the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in post-test scores between the conventional lecture method and the self-instruction method.

Supportive personnel of a 516-bed, non-profit university hospital food service were randomly selected to participate in the study. An in-service education program series of five topics was developed and presented by two methods: lectures and an audiovisual self-instruction method using the 3M Sound on Slide projector. Observations on each subject included …

Computer-Assisted Layout Design Planning For An Entree Production Center, Saundra H. Pierpoint

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A productive layout design effectively utilizes men, materials, machines, and space. Determination of effective utilization of space and equipment arrangement for a food service system is based on the menu item production sequences. Utilization of computer processing of the data can provide quantitative information in minimal time for major planning decisions.

It was the purpose of this research 1) to determine an optimal equipment arrangement among four types of layouts for an entree-production center and 2) to demonstrate the value of the computer-assisted method in optimizing equipment arrangements.

The production sequences indicating equipment utilization and frequency factor for each of …

Activity Analysis Of Personnel On Patient Trayline Assembly, June Bishop

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The systems approach in food service administration is the initial step in analyzing current procedures to determine the effectiveness of resource utilization. Analysis begins with observation of a system to provide possible explanations of the system behavior.

The purpose of this research was to determine through work sampling the proportion of both productive and nonproductive labor time of operators on the tray assembly, the labor time and labor cost required in each position and for each meal, and to test the hypothesis that there was no significant difference between the productivity index (trays per minute) during Phase A and Phase …

The Psychological Needs Of Hospital Dietary Supportive Personnel, Ralph Morales Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Achieving objectives in hospital food service systems is made more critical by the increasing rate of labor turnover. One of the major emphases that seems to offer promise for solving certain current manpower problems is a better understanding of the factors which may contribute to turnover. A quantitative approach to the identification of human needs in the work environment should provide information relevant to more effective planning and utilization of human resources.

The purpose of this research was to determine if by examining the psychological needs of hospital dietary supportive personnel, information could be derived for more objective management of …

Labor Time Analysis By Work Function Activity In Production Of Vegetarian Entrees, Maynard W. Lebrun

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The specific objectives of this research were to (1) develop a method for determining labor time and labor cost of cooks by work functions in the production of selected vegetarian entrees, and (2) determine the percentage relationship of cooks' labor to food cost in selected classifications of entrees.

Application of the continuous time study methodology as developed in this research was restricted to the observation of entree cooks in a 408 bed non-profit university hospital. Observation of work function activities during the first week of a four week cycle menu for three consecutive cycles was classified under three major categories: …

Equipment And Space Utilization In Hospital Food Service Systems, Robert E. Jacaban

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The concept of convenience food service systems has evolved as a result of technological progression in food preparation, processing, packaging and equipment to curtail input resources of space, equipment and labor. The purpose of this research was to (1) compare the allocation of space in six selected hospital food systems designed for convenience or for conventional operations with estimated needs suggested by Kotschevar and Terrell (1961a) and (2) identify types, determine units and utilization time of production and reconstitution equipment in the two systems.

Space allocations were calculated for each of the subunits within the food system. The square feet …

Computer Assisted Inventory Cost System, Wilmer R. Snyder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The development of a computer assisted inventory cost system was reported. The objectives of the research were to: (1) design an inventory cost system utilizing computer processing to maintain inventory records necessary for monthly financial reports, (2) develop portion cost information which could be utilized in costing recipes and menu patterns, and (3) provide a management tool that would supply quantitative data for decision making which could serve as a guideline for other food service systems within Seventh-day Adventist institutions.

1. The development of the inventory cost system involved four separate steps:
2. Food code development to provide each food item with …

A Comparative Study Of The 5- And 3-Meal Plans In Six Convalescent Hospitals In San Bernardino County, Donna J. Meek

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A study comparing the 3- and 5-meal plans of food service, as used in long-stay geriatric units in San Bernardino County, have been compared. Three homes utilizing the 5-meal plan and three utilizing the 3-meal plan, to serve as controls, were chosen. A random sample of ten patients from each home was observed for three days to find the daily average nutrients in the foods served, eaten, and wasted. Also, interviews to compare factual information and attitudes were utilized for sample patients and personnel. The nutritional data was analyzed on the computer.

The results indicated that those on the 5-meal …

A Comparative Study Of Four Systems Of Tray Distribution As To Delivery Time, Temperature Control And Cost Factors, Ruth Marie Deming

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The delivery and transportation time, temperature control and cost factors of four systems of tray transportation and distribution were compared. The systems that were used were the following: 'Electra Royal' of Meals on Wheels, 'Unitray' Cart of Swartbough, 'Lampson Trayevors', and the "Dri Heat Food System'. Hospitals which has the specific system were used for the delivery and transportation time and for the temperature control portion of the study. Cost factors were obtained from printed price sheets or by personal communication with the factory representative of the firm concerned.

The delivery time was taken as the time required to deliver …

A Workshop Plan For Food Service Supervisors In Seventh-Day Adventist Institutions In Mexico, Marian Anne Fedak

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It is desirable in any dietary service to produce high quality and nutritious food within reasonable cost. Any training which the food service supervisor may receive in administration, nutrition and food preparation will aid in achieving this goal. No training program for food service supervisors in Seventh-day Adventist institutions in Mexico has been available. The plan for a two week workshop for food service supervisors was thus developed as a step toward meeting this need.

Principles on techniques of conducting workshops have been discussed.

An investigation was made into Mexican agricultural trends, food habits and nutritional status to present information …

A Study Of Cost Accounting At The Dietary Department Of The White Memorial Medical Center, Dorothy Syme

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was done at the White Memorial Medical Center to develop meaningful financial statements for the dietary department; to provide a simple method of interpretation of each financial statement; and to provide essential cost control data for the dietary department and the administrator. The benefits derived from this study were to assist the dietitian in controlling the dietary department's food costs.

In order to develop meaningful financial statements for the dietary service, cafeteria, and snack shop forms in current use were analyzed and reviewed.

Charges on the Monthly Profit and Loss Statements and Monthly Unit Cost Statements were analyzed …

A Manual For Training Food Service Supervisors In Brazil, Rosalynn Case

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was done to develop a manual to be used in instructing food service supervisors in Brazil.

The need for the study was established when the writer was asked to direct a training course for food service supervisors in Brazil. Correspondence with dietitians in Brazil reveled that there was a definite need for a manual which presents current scientific, and technological information.

Current literature was reviewed and studied to determine present concepts in each of the areas of food service supervision and management. A manual of instruction was then prepared which included these concepts.

In the manual suggestions were …