New Association for Hospitality in Healthcare launches to improve patient experience
A new professional association has been launched to explore how hospitality principles can improve the patient experience in healthcare delivery. The Association for Hospitality in Healthcare (AHIH), based in Las Vegas, aims to serve as a resource for healthcare networks, clinicians, educational institutions, and suppliers by focusing on evidence-based applications of hospitality within medical settings.
Las Vegas, often regarded as a global hospitality hub, will host the association’s headquarters, highlighting the city’s growing role in blending hospitality with healthcare. This positioning also aligns with efforts to bolster Las Vegas as a leading destination for medical tourism — a sector that benefits from integrating patient-centred hospitality to enhance care experiences and outcomes.
The founder, Dr Constantine George, a practicing physician with over two decades of experience in patient care, has identified gaps in the current healthcare model that could be addressed through hospitality principles. The association’s mission reflects his commitment to values such as humility, hospitality, respect, integrity, and accountability, which he believes are often lacking in healthcare today.
AHIH’s areas of focus include equitable and convenient access to healthcare, coordinated and timely delivery, environmental design factors, operational protocols, patient-centred technology, and ensuring the patient’s voice is central to care improvements. The association plans to develop research initiatives, educational symposia, and certification programmes that enhance professional knowledge and practice at the intersection of hospitality and healthcare.
The organisation also seeks collaboration from both the hospitality and healthcare sectors nationally, aiming to bring together varied expertise to improve service delivery models. This cross-sector approach reflects a broader trend in healthcare, where patient experience is increasingly recognised as pivotal to overall care quality and provider reputation.
Membership is open to professionals across relevant fields, offering opportunities for continuing education, professional certification, conference participation, and publication of research and case studies. By facilitating knowledge sharing and professional development, AHIH hopes to establish itself as a catalyst for change within the healthcare industry.
The launch of AHIH comes amid growing interest in enhancing patient experience through service innovation. Healthcare executives and trade associations may find value in monitoring this association’s activities for potential collaboration or insights, especially given the rising importance of patient satisfaction in regulatory and market frameworks.
The PR Newswire US is reporting this announcement, noting that more information is available via the association’s website or directly through Dr George. Membership engagement and contributions will be key to the association’s impact on healthcare hospitality integration moving forward.