So I just got back from the hospital to see my Grandfather. It is after hours and because of this the main entrance is closed, requiring the use of the entrance through the emergency room. I enter the emergency room and what is the first thing I see? A fully loaded coffee bar. Full of steamed milk, extract flavorings, and some cute girl named Rachel. In the middle of the fucking emergency room. I am not mad at this. It was just bizarre. All around were the sick, injured and insurance-less, and then there was the coffee bar. It was not like this was some cavernous room that you could easily stick a coffee bar in. This was a relatively tinny emergency room. That they just sort of tacked on a coffee bar to. Inside the fucking emergency room.
I felt like I was in some sitcom.
I hope my grandpa doesn’t die.
Rachel did make a good latte.
They had one in the waiting area where you go to get tests and lab work done, when I had my last MRI. I felt sorry for the people who were told not to eat anything the night before. Then had to wait for an hour whiffing coffee and cinnamon roll fumes. Or the people (like me), who are nervous about their tests and hate the smell of coffee.
I think more importantly: All around were people with money in their pockets, waiting for hours and not really able get up and leave. From a business point-of-view, I think it’s a great idea!! From a 'I have a huge gaping hole in my head and I’ve been waiting for three hours to be seen" point-of-view, it’s a little odd. But provided there wasn’t a gaping hole in my stomach, I would probably buy one. (Wouldn’t want to waste that money on a good Chai if it was just going to leak out of me cartoon style)
But you’re right. Kinda strange. Like waiting to get stitches at a Starbucks. Come to think of it, that might be a good idea. I could open a clinical stand inside a Starbucks. I could do breast exams, check prostates, draw blood, and stitch up some cuts while the customers wait for their lattes to be made.
There’s an entire McDonald’s adjacent to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital here. Not surprising really. Depending on the crowds and your place in the triage, you could easily be there all day.
Seinfeld could have made a whole episode about this. So you bought into it eh? 
Don’t worry I would have too. Why couldn’t they have put it in the cafeteria? Seems it would have been a more appropriate place. By the way hope your grandpa gets well soon.
There was one attatched to the children’s hospital where I used to live as well. I thought it was awfully convenient of them to put the food that puts you in the hospital inside the hospital itself. (A friend had a baby at the neighboring regular hospital, and the McDonald’s was the closest food, you had to walk through the bottom floor of both hospitals to get to it, which is how I know about it.)
There is a McDonald’s inside of Texas Children’s hospital- right there on the first floor.
I think the coffee bar is part of the new trend of customer service in health care. I’ve been on both side of the hospital bed, and I don’t mind it (provided the hospital staffs appropriately).
Hm. The Jewish has a coffee bar in the front lobby, but that’s the first I’ve heard of one right in the emerge. Having sat through a few three+ hour waits (for myself and others), I think it would have been more pleasant for all concerned if I had had access to latte and biscotti at that time.
Yep, makes sense. Provide coffee to make people happy instead of providing adequate (and adequately trained!) staff. Cynical, me? Naaah.
Actually, I think the coffee idea is brilliant, though I wonder if they shouldn’t put it somewhere a bit more out of the way. If I was in the emergency room because of violent horrible stomach problems or something I might not want to be smelling brewing coffee and fresh snacks.
I hope your grandpa gets well fast, BTW, Muad’Dib.