Psychosocial care as a marketing tool: gaining hospital-wide commitment through guest relations training

Spurred primarily by the new climate of competition in health care, a number of hospitals have instituted training programs in "guest relations" to ensure that all hospital employees, from administrators to maintenance workers, interact in helpful, caring ways with patients and visitors. These programs provide an excellent means of acquainting all employees with the special needs of children and their parents and offer concrete suggestions for how a wide variety of employees can contribute to total psychosocial care.