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

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).

For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha, visit www.rmhcomaha.org.