Tipping question--Hospital Concierge

[lovetoscrap]

A family member is receiving medical treatment at a specialty center several hours from their home. The facility had a Concierge service as soon as you walk in that will help you with anything you need from directing you where to go, getting you a drink or helping you make hotel and dinner reservations and beyond. They have been very helpful in getting hotel reservations, recommending restaurants and things to do in the area, finding a local pharmacy and grocery store, and other little things.

So do you tip this person? There are actually 2 people that are at the desk but I guess one of them has provided them with all the assistance.

 

[laurie31]

I would not think so. I wonder if they are even allowed to accept tips.

We have valet parking for the ER, and they are not allowed to accept tips. It's a service provided by the hospital which is win-win. No one wants someone to be driving around looking for a parking place while their loved one is having a heart attack or asthma attack in the back seat. Even if they aren't having a life and death emergency, if they're sick enough to be in the ER, they don't want to walk 2 blocks to get there after they park.

My guess is the concierge service you described is a similar program - a service provided because so many people using that hospital are from out of town and are very stressed out in an unfamiliar environment. They may even be volunteers. A thank you note describing specifics of how they helped would be appreciated (plus help show their value to "higher-ups") but I don't think a tip is indicated.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

When my Dad had his heart transplant my Mother tipped the Concierge and the Valet personnel. He was in for a very long time and they took very good care of my mother. It wasn't too much each day, and I am sure on bad days it was nothing at all. She found comfort with the people there who knew her.

I guess what I am trying to say is even a small tip can't hurt if they will accept them.

 

[pearlieq]

No. You definitely are not expected to tip this person. It's a service the hospital provides for the comfort of the patients and their family.

 

[leight]

I don't think you are expected to tip but if they accept it a little something during the holidays would be appreciated. When my grandmother was in a nursing home during the last stage of Alzheimer's we brought lunch in for the nursing staff as a thank you for their care. Something like that is also very appreciated.

 

[simba928]

I would not tip them. When my grandfather was in the hospital before he died, we would bring a little something for the nurses (some cookies or candy or something along those lines). You could do something like that if they have been extraordinarily helpful. That's just a little way to show they are appreciated without putting them in the awkward situation of having to turn it down (per hospital policy).