Adding hospitality to the hospital stay

From the Kansas City Star:

When you go to the hospital, you probably don’t expect to enjoy the hospitality.

But AVP Inc., an Overland Park company, is working to change that notion by bringing upscale customer attention — valet parking, concierge service, room service and bell staff — to hospitals and other health-care facilities.

“The health-care institutions are fighting for the baby boom generation. We’re providing services that help them compete,” said Jeff Perry, part owner and a division president of AVP.

The company serves more than 100 hospitals in 34 states. In the Kansas City area, facilities include Lee’s Summit Hospita l, Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Research Medical Center and Shawnee Mission Medical Center.

It’s Perry’s contention that patients want to be treated better during hospital visits.

“We want to improve the hospital stay,” Perry said. “We’re trying to dress up the front end and when they (patients) depart the hospital.”