Hospital gets resort-like makeover

Flat panel TVs, massages, sweet and sinful treats. A Valley hospital has added these resort-like amenities to make their patients feel more like guests than patients.

Katie Thompson just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. "I am very excited. She is my first baby and first daughter."

And she says her stay at Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa has been especially nice.

Paul Thompson, Katie's husband, agrees. "I think that the rooms have been up specifically to accommodate the husbands or significant others, or whatever. And so, I mean I've been very comfortable here. It's been nice.

The hospital's Kathy Townsend says that's because of the changes they've made. "Our rooms are the largest in the East Valley. And we've added a lot of fun things to our rooms, like flat screen TVs, new DVD players, personal refrigerators and personal computers for patient use."

This is part of a growing trend among hospitals nationwide.

One Detroit hospital hired a former Ritz-Carlton hotel executive to run its gourmet food service. Another hospital in Los Angeles is adding things like granite countertops in its rooms.

It's all part of a "medical arms race" by hospitals to try to lure patients.

Katie Thompson especially liked one thing. "The computer was a very nice addition since we have a lot of family and friends out of state, so we could email pictures right away."

Townsend says the hospital offers more. "We have acupuncture and massage therapy, manicures and pedicures that are available to any patient for a small fee."

Katie Thompson says the amenities have made for a nice beginning for her family's new addition. "Just being a family and knowing that we were taken care of safely at Banner Baywood."