What are the Duties of a Hospital Concierge?

Though medical care is the number one priority, many hospitals are borrowing concepts from the hospitality industry such as concierge services to create a more satisfactory experience for their patients and visitors. A hospital concierge performs many of the same duties as a hotel concierge but specializes some tasks to the hospital environment.

Patient Services

• Most hospitals that have a concierge department provide patients with special services that go above and beyond their medical care. Some offer complimentary movie rentals, spa and salon services, order-out food services, errand running, pet visitation arrangements and business services such as copying, faxing and mailing. The concierge can even arrange for special celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. The duties of a concierge are typically limited only by the patient's request as the goal of these programs is to improve patient satisfaction.

Visitor Services

• Visitors may require hotel accommodations, car rentals, or restaurant reservations, all of which the concierge staff should be able to handle. Ordering flowers or gifts or gift wrapping are services that some concierge programs offer as well. In addition to the basic duties for visitors, some concierge staff run personal errands for their guests such as picking up dry cleaning or take out, arranging for pet care, or buying stamps.

Other Services

• In addition to visitor and patient services, some concierge programs include services for employees of the hospital. Florida Hospital Altamonte offers its employees car detailing, mailing and shipping items, making vacation arrangements, arranging automobile services such as oil changes and flat tire repair, personal shopping and purchasing concert tickets. In addition to the services that are listed with most hospital concierge programs, the concierge is willing to accommodate additional requests. In hospitals, however, these services usually do not require payment or tips of any kind unless paying for a service performed by a third party.