I work in a hospital which has a Dietary department outsourced to Marriott. In addition to feeding patients and running the cafeteria, this department is responsible for catering in-house functions.

Currently, when I want to set up a catered function, I must call or e-mail them with date/time/location, and a vague idea of what to serve, based on what I remember from their menu. This approach is error-prone, and frustrating for both requestor, and dietary staff.

I'm trying to find a computer application which provides a web interface to users who need to make such requests of Dietary. Users could fill out an online form, and use pull-down menus to select available menu items. When they click "submit" the price is calculated, and the request is forwarded to Dietary personnel.

Does anyone know of such a program?

By George (George) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 07:28 pm: Edit

There might a module for one of the big companies systems (CBord or the like) but you would have to have their whole system in place first. Big $$

The problem is Marriott probably have their own menus and products and prices and the customization of an off the shelf web product would cost more that having a developer create it for you from scratch. I'm sure the hospital would balk at paying for either.

Creating a form with drop down menus that can adjust the customer count and price it out and generate an e-mail isn't that hard a thing to do even for a small web company. But again remember that the hospital would have to pay for the whole thing.

BTW I'm surprised that the Marriott folks don't have a preset menu to give you to work from and fax in. In any event they would have to have that in place before going to the extra trouble and expense of putting it on a website.

By George (George) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 09:25 pm: Edit

I checked the website for your hospital. There I found the folks that put it together.
They offer-


ENTERPRISEvision - helping employees to improve their workflow and access whatever tools they need to serve those they serve more effectively

Really seem they would be the ones to consder contacting.