Supporting Services at Hospitals Supporting services refer to the cost sections, which are not medical ancillary divisions. The centers do not obtain revenue from patient charges. Thus, physicians may not necessarily offer professional guidance with regard to their usage. Hospitals mainly have the patient, facilities and administrative support functions. Patient supporting services involve the organization of hospitals where providers are in direct contact with patients in areas of nutrition, pastoral care, patient ombudsman, social services and patient escort. On the premises of facility’s supporting services, providers offer equipment services, including housekeeping, biomedical engineering, physical plant and maintenance. With regard to administrative services, the functions promote an institution’s mission through effective material management, telecommunications, volunteers and human resource management. Patient supporting services support therapeutic processes and provide healthy menu for patients and hospital personnel under the guidance of nutritionists with respect to proper nutrition. The department achieves the dietary functions through proper patient menus, special diets, determining the type of food taken, installation of facilities for food preparation, cafeteria management, catering services, contract food supply and other food programs. The social support service uses medical and psychiatric officers to provide a holistic patient management through considering physiological and psychological aspects of therapy. Chaplains and other religious people offer pastoral care to patients and their families through listening to them, offering advice, providing stress management care, offering crisis interventions and mediating to ensure effective patient care. Patient transport functions are important in ensuring safe accessibility of hospitals, especially by people with disabilities. A patient representative is a major part of care because he/she acts as a link between a hospital setup, patient and/or his or her family through effective listening, communication and facilitation of healthcare processes. With regard to a facility’s support functions, there are environmental services, which address two key areas of patient care in the hospital. Workers in the environmental department ensure high standards of cleanliness and regulation of linen supply in a facility. Effectiveness of the support services are achieved through adequate staffing, removal of hazardous and infectious waste as well as control and distribution of linen. Laundry services are important in ensuring the collection and cleaning of soiled linen for subsequent use. Maintenance of grounds, equipment and buildings is vital in ensuring proper operations in a hospital. Plant engineering helps in heat, light and power generation and distribution to the entire facility. Other important facility services include parking management, security, fire safety, biomedical engineering, and contract management. Administration functions in a hospital are important for effective coordination and control of resources in a hospital setup. A materials management section controls and facilitates the use of products and other supplies from the