Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital

My wife has been in numerous hospitals in indianapolis and now muncie in the last 12 years (4 thirty days stays in the last 7 months). She is seriously ill with multiple maladies. We have found IU Ball Hospital to be the best of all the hospitals she has visited. From emergency to the patient floors, there is a friendly, caring environment we have not found in the other locations. When you are sick, or hurting, the responses you get from nurses, doctors, and technicians goes a long way in aiding the healing process. The help you receive at Ball is exceptional! I could only give Ball 4 out of 5 stars because of their food service. It is not correct to add the name "service" to their food provider. From the phone ordering system, to the food and condiments, to the preparation and delivery of the food, it is sub standard. Examples are as follows: 1) Elderly patients, who can barely lift a fork, are expected blend and mix there hot chocolate in their bed. 2) If you order pancakes, you are delivered bare pancakes, unless you specifically order butter or syrup as a addition. 3) Food is sometimes left on a counter across the room, instead of being left at the bedside. How is a person who can't get out of bed supposed to get their food? 4) if you are in the AMG section of the hospital the food service is even worse, since "they" decide what you are going to eat, unless you order your breakfast before 7pm the night before...no exceptions.! The different rules for the AMG section are not explained prior to entering that section. The quality of the food is at best a "C" but the food service is definitely a "F"! If it wasn't for the food service, IU Ball would get 5 stars from us.