‘What to wear?’ debate continues
What to wear?’ debate continues
The proper attire for access employees continues to be a topic of concern to access managers who seek a balance between pleasing the staff and presenting a professional image to customers. In earlier issues, Hospital Access Management provided a forum for the debate on whether uniforms should be worn. (See January and May 1998 issues.)
Now Karen Duffy, MS, manager of patient services for MeritCare Health System, Fargo, ND, raises the question of whether "business casual" attire is a feasible option for access employees.
"Health care organizations have always been pretty conservative about dress codes," she points out. "For some reason, we are held to a higher standard. I’m not sure patients would look at us like they look at a bank when it comes to casual dress."
At her organization, staff who don’t interact with patients are allowed more freedom in what they wear, Duffy adds, and she wonders if the same latitude should be given to those who do meet the public. "Has anyone else tried [more casual dress] with patients?" she asks. "Does it work to wear something other than a uniform or business clothes? How about logo items?"
Wearing surgical scrubs is "becoming not an option," Duffy notes, as hospital administration scrutinizes — in a cost-saving effort — who needs to be in scrubs.
"Our staff would like to be more casual, but we fear the public wouldn’t be positive about too casual an appearance," she says. "I would like to hear stories of success or failure from those who have tried something like this."
[If you can offer feedback on this issue, please contact editor Lila Moore at (520) 299-8730 or [email protected]. Karen Duffy can be reached at MeritCare Health System, 737 Broadway #794, Fargo, ND 58123. Telephone: (701) 234-2392.]
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