Sweatshirt vs. lab coat? - YouLookFab Forum

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Sweatshirt vs. lab coat?

Anonymous

I went in for my annual eye exam yesterday, and the woman who did my initial testing before I saw the doctor, who was very pleasant and professional by the way, was wearing a grey sweatshirt with a giant Las Vegas logo. It wasn't raggedy or ill-fitting at all, but just seeing "Las Vegas" in big letters looming in the dark room kind of unsettled me. I wondered if the staff was dressing more casually to avoid the "white coat hypertension" caused by the traditional lab coat. (The doctor, by the way, was wearing a gorgeous white lace sweater, which I thought was a nice variation on the white lab coat. It didn't make me feel nervous at all!)

Am I being too critical about the sweatshirt? I was a bit surprised at how much it bothered me.

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from gryffin

The Cat

Veteran

I don't think you sound critical. So I am sure you are able to give them a little feedback on this subject (perhaps in a letter) in a nice way, and that this would be a good idea. Without critizising anyone, you can tell the staff how their way of dressing may effect you and other patients. Most probably, they want all patients to relax and feel well, not to feel nervous, offended or scared. Your kind feedback may help them realize that they can contribute to a pleasant atmosphere also by their way of dressing.

LaPed

Veteran

At my physician's office, RNs and MAs almost always wear scrubs and clogs. They're discouraged from wearing sneakers because it's unprofessional, I imagine the same would go for street clothes. Doctors sometimes wear lab coats, but often not. If I saw someone in a sweatshirt, I think I'd assume s/he was new and didn't have scrubs yet.

I really prefer medical offices with a fairly clear and consistent dress code, so I can easily discern the role of the person I'm talking to. I don't like having to ask, or squint at their ID badges.

Sisi

Veteran

I like to see doctors and medical personnel in immaculate and well ironed white coats. This immediately gives me the idea of professionalism, cleanliness and hygiene. Sweatshirts? Lace sweaters? No thanks.

Liz

Veteran

It sounds like something about the logo itself made you nervous (I'm using that word because you said the doctor's sweater didn't make you nervous). It would be pretty hard for a staff to figure out how to deal with "the logo unsettled me." On the other hand, if it was the casualness of a sweatshirt, then I would say something.

Personally, I want the techs dressed well because a) I want to think that a professional and not a barely-trained entry level person is doing my healthcare work and b) I'm paying a lot for the service, so I want the people doing it to look like they are pros at their job.

Greenjeans

Veteran

This is why I don't put bumper stickers on my vehicle.

Meredith

Veteran

My doctor once told me that lab coats and men's ties are covered in germs because they aren't frequently cleaned. She preferred 3/4 sleeves so she could give her arms and hands a thorough scrub. Now I much prefer doctors who don't wear coats! I do agree that a sweatshirt is more casual than I'd like to see at a doctors office or any professional setting.

K.M.

Veteran

My concern is about hygiene, as Sisi mentioned. I think of lab coats as garments that are washed in extra-hot water and don't travel outside of the doctor's office. Of course I know this isn't entirely true (I often see doctors, nurses, and med students in scrubs walking around on the street or doing groceries), but I always thought that was the basic idea.

If they want to get around uniforms, I'd be curious about the reason. If it's saving money for the clinic, that would concern me. If it's about creating a more welcoming atmosphere, then they could still have a dress code of all-white, unadorned fabrics.

Anonymous

Yes, I think it was the huge logo rather than the sweatshirt. A plain sweatshirt probably wouldn't have bothered me (I would probably figure she was cold), but a Las Vegas sweatshirt just didn't say "medical professional" to me at all.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I don't mind doc's in street clothes but the *choice* of street clothes might impact me. The Las Vegas logo would have been a big negative to me so I can see why it bothered you. But a lot of other logos would have the same result. I could see a "no logo" policy because messages on clothing in a professional environment seem wrong to me.

jill58

Veteran

I would be put off by a sweatshirt no matter what it did or didn't say. The first thing that would come to my mind is, why is this person dressed so unprofessionally? I once had a consultation with a very young female doctor who was wearing corduroy pants and a sweater. It was one of several things that put me off her practice. Needless to say I prefer more traditional attire. I think this allows the patient to concentrate on the purpose of the visit as opposed to the sartorial choices of the staff.

Diana

Veteran

I'm not a doctor or medical professional, but I work at a medical school. Anyway, I see white coats around here all over the place. The idea that
they are clean, office-only garments is totally false. People
DEFINITELY wear them out of the office/hospital (scrubs too for that
matter) to go out for lunch, take smoking breaks, etc. There's always debates around here about how clean white coats actually are, and I think the consensus is that they are not washed frequently, so scrubs (washed after every wear) are probably more hygienic and disposable garments (like the gowns that are used for surgery, etc) even more so. That said, if you're just going for a doctor's office visit and not like
the OR or anything, it probably doesn't make a huge difference. Personally I don't mind seeing white coats, business casual type wear, or scrubs. I do think the sweatshirt you're describing is too casual and not professional, but I'd probably think that of the receptionist or anyone else working in a non medical office environment too.

I guess working in this environment and being a scientist, I have become very desensitized to the symbolism of a white coat anyway. I mean, I don't wear a lab coat in my lab, but I could and you definitely don't want me giving you medical care. For the record I actually do experience white coat hypertension but it has nothing to do with the white coats for me! (I think it's mostly the smell of doctor's offices and hospitals, or just the psychological knowledge that I'm there.)

K.M.

Veteran

Diana: ha! I knew it!!!! I knew those coats and scrubs were worn outside!!! I do see that, but try to tell myself that those doctors are on their way OUT of their workplace and going home, where they will boil and bleach their garments. (No, I don't believe this for a second.)

Has anyone done a study about whether germy white coats and scrubs contribute to disease transmission? Perhaps it's not that big of a deal?...

Anonymous

Right on. Nothing against Las Vegas, by the way. I would have felt (almost) the same way if it said "Boston," "Miami," or "Philadelphia." It just didn't fit in with the medical environment.

But I guess it could have been worse...

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

In my family doctor office, none of the doctors or nurses or staff ever wear a white coat and they don't in any GP ( family doctor) practice in NZ. They are only worn in hospitals. This has been the case my whole career, since I first went to a GP practice as a medical student in 1982. In NZ we are trying to make people feel more comfortable and connected to their doctor or nurse that way. Is that different in the US and maybe Canada?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree that it signifies a level of casualness that doesn't really convey professionalism. I am not sure I expect an eye technician to wear a white coat, but I would like to see the person dressed in some kind of simple, plain outfit that is not distracting.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Jenni, I graduated that same year, in Canada. For my first year of family practice locums I wore dressy blazers etc that needed dry cleaning.

Since getting my own practice I am white coats all the way. Easier on my clothes (body fluids, yecch) and I think the patients feel more secure/confident too. At first it was my youthful appearance and long dark hair I was also trying to overcome... no longer an issue!

anne

Veteran

Jenni. Same in Australia.

Gaylene

Veteran

For most of us going to a doctor is a serious business, even if it's just for a routine checkup. Putting me at ease isn't about wearing casual clothing or lab coats, but about wearing clothes which make me feel I'm in good hands should things take a turn for the worst. It's hard, as a adult, to take directions from someone dressed in play clothes or someone who looks like they need a change of clothes and a good scrubbing.

Maybe doctors need to take a page from Lily Pulitzer who went home from her Palm Beach juice bar job and whipped up a bunch of colorful cotton shifts which hid the juice splashes and were easy to wash. I'm not sure Lily's preppy style would work in clinic, but her concept is certainly a valid one for many professionals. My 20-something eye doc wears a tunic top and leggings--nothing remarkable until you get close enough to see the print in her top is a series of Elton John-style glass frames. Cracks me up every time I see her in it!

rachylou

Veteran

This is interesting. I don't mind certain specialists not wearing the lab coat or the office people... but I want my PCP and anyone touching me in a uniform and everyone else to be in smart casual at least...

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Medical assistants aren't paid very well at all. And yes, lab coats and ties are notorious vectors for bug transmission.
At my hospital they just implemented a new program with special colored scrubs to be worn in the OR & never leave the hospital. I see them out and about on the street. Funny thing is that I've noticed that the pants are generally very short, probably to reduce heel drag. My coworker & joked we need special socks for when we go to the OR. But we are lucky as the hospital washes our scrubs & provides them. Another hospital in my area gives you a set of scrubs, but you're expected to wash them yourselves.
Also I remember forum member lyn* who was doing her residency in psychiatry & would actively eschew a lab coat to the benefit of patient interaction.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Forum member Lyn had it exactly right as far as we try to dress in primary care practice in NZ and Australia. I definitely dress better than smart casual I believe. No boho orange floral tops for the office! But it seems from what Rachy-Lou and L'Abeille are saying that you have a different cultural expectation in the US and Canada. Interestingly I did also work in the UK in 2002-3 and they don't wear lab coats in primary care there either. These cultural differences are really interesting!

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

If it's a one-time thing, I wouldn't give it another thought. It could be that the patient before you threw up on her and she had to change into whatever was available, however unprofessional that might look (still better than no top, just bra). If it's a regular occurrence, it might be worth saying something to the physician.

Staysfit

Veteran

When I was in medical school we were given three
An coats with our name embroidered on them to use for the entire four years. I recieved two more for my two year fellowship but never used them. I gave them to DD who used them for art smocks. I wore scrubs from the hospital if I was on overnight call. Otherwise, I haven't put on a lab coat since the second year of my residency, when I finished with in house (hospital) overnight call. Hmm, maybe I wore them for consultation-liaison rotations. It's hard to walk around a hospital in street clothes if you're a physician when you want to have authority to get something done.

I haven't missed it, and no one has said anything to me, ever. However, my practice is unique, and I am a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. My brother, who is a Family Practitioner, has a lab coat, but I'm not sure he wears it. I will ask him. Very few of my personal doctors wear them.

My trainees, (because I teach Psychiatry residents) do not wear lab coats or scrubs. They dress very nicely though. I wear jeans and even shorts to work. I have never once seen one of my trainees in jeans. They are much more formal than I am. No one has ever sent me a letter about how I dress, or about my office staff's attire when I ran a private practice. If we recieved a letter from someone about how we dressed when we ran the practice, we would certainly have considered the content, but I'm not sure it would have changed the way we did things.

gryffin

Veteran

I'm a dermatologist. I wear a blazer and nice outfit everyday over which I wear a long white coat which has these fabulous knot buttons on the front and on the back belt (because they are the best and nicest looking!!) and embroidered with my name. My husband who is my partner, he hates white coats, but he wears a white dress shirt, tie, black dress pants every day. Our staff, who do not work with us in the back dress in street clothes. We used to give a uniform allowance and have them dress in matching scrubs and jackets but all the companies were extremely poor quality and we spent a lot of money for things they complained about constantly. Since they have patient contact only at reception and billing we don't feel the need for them to have more formal professional attire. I get compliments on the buttons of my coat, and typically my boots, skin and many times outfit. I've always liked the long white coats, I think they definitely give patients a sense of comfort in my role and since I do procedures they keep my street clothes which are of very good quality clean and protected. I wear a new clean coat each week or change it out if it gets dirty sooner.