New Study: Hospital Administrators Say Ronald McDonald Houses Provide Significant Benefits

Survey of Hospital Administrators Around the World Reveals Strong Agreement That Ronald McDonald Houses Assist Families With Psychosocial Challenges, Coping With a Child's Illness and Other Important Benefits


OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Apr 30, 2015) - A study published in the Journal of Health Organization and Management finds that a strong majority of hospital administrators agree that Ronald McDonald Houses (RMHs) play a significant and important role in family-centered care for children with serious medical needs.

The study also suggests that many hospital leaders worldwide believe that their partnership with RMH enhances the patient experience, enhances hospital marketing and reach, and reduces staff and economic burdens on the hospital associated with assisting patient families with affordable lodging and other accommodations.

Over 90% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that RMH affiliation:

  • enhances the ability to provide family-centered care (95.1%)
  • reduces parental stress (94.0%)
  • reduces costs to families (92.6%)
  • improves sleep quality/quantity for parents (92.2%)
  • reduces burden of hospital assisting with lodging (90.8%).

Among other findings, the majority of survey respondents either "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that their RMH assists families with psychosocial challenges such as:

  • feeling isolated (80.8%)
  • coping with a child's illness (76.2%)
  • receiving needed social support (73.4%).

The study, "Hospital leadership perspectives on the contributions of Ronald McDonald Houses: results from an international survey," was based on a survey of 530 administrators from 16 countries. This survey was the first to study the impact of RMHs on seriously ill children and their families from the perspective of hospital administrators. The study was led by Paula M. Lantz, Nicole Rubin and D. Richard Mauery and supported by a grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

"Family-centered care for children represents a significant shift from a limited focus on the biomedical/therapeutic needs of a child to a more comprehensive view of a child in the context of his or her family," said Dr. Lantz, Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. "This study confirms that hospital leaders strongly believe that Ronald McDonald Houses make significant positive contributions to a family-centered approach to caring for children with serious health care needs."

About Ronald McDonald's House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of 300 Chapters in more than 60 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, the Ronald McDonald Family Room® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs, enable family-centered care, provide a bridge to quality health care, are a vital part of the health care continuum and give children and families the time they need to heal and cope better together. RMHC is the 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Social Services Non-Profit Brand of the Year.

Contact Information:

Media Contact:
Jennifer Blanchard Smith
Jennifer.smith@us.mcd.com
858-229-7873