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Dress code will help identify health care role by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Everyone who cares for or works toward providing MUSC patients with high quality, professional care would agree that it’s important to listen when those patients make a request.   “The purpose of our new dress code is not to inhibit personal freedoms, but rather to acknowledge the unique role that each health care provider has in patient care,” said Marilyn Schaffner, R.N., Clinical Services administrator. “Our first goal should be to provide the best health care for our patients. Effective communication is an important part of that process. Your appearance counts. With the new dress code, our patients and families will be able to quickly identify your role in providing their health care.   “Our image is an important component in how our patients and families regard us. We want to promote an atmosphere of professionalism and inspire confidence.”   MUSC administration arrived at the decision to begin a new dress code with the opening of the new hospital in spring 2007. A special dress code task force reviewed patient satisfaction surveys, as well as conducted research on other institutions throughout the country that have enacted similar dress codes.   MUSC employees must now pick what colors they would like to wear based on their role.   MUSC Medical Center staff can begin voting for the scrub color of their choice Oct. 31, with voting concluding on Nov. 21. In the Children’s Hospital lobby on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, all the scrub and polo shirt colors listed on the voting Web site will be available for viewing from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The scrubs will not be for sale on those days.   The voting Web site is user-friendly and requires an MUSC network account (MNA) password. To get a password or locate a forgotten one, go to http://www.musc.edu/infoservices/mna.html for information or sign-up. Pickup for account passwords is located at the medical center security desk or the library.   Employees must have a password to vote.   Once the colors are decided upon for each unit, members of particular areas, departments, or disciplines can further distinguish themselves by placing MUSC approved logos on scrub tops, lab coats, or jackets.   June Darby, R.N., Therapeutic Services director, chairs the task force committee charged with the job of devising a dress code.   “We knew and still know that this is a sensitive issue, and that’s why more than 75 people have been involved in making sure this is the best choice for our patients and our staff,” Darby said. “We’re going to a dress code because we want to instill confidence in our patients to know who’s taking care of them.”   By holding the vote now, employees will have ample time to purchase new uniforms in their particular color, and Darby is working on securing deals with local uniform vendors.   “We’ve been working very hard to think about the needs of the patients, our coworkers, men, women, and outpatient and inpatient considerations,” said Connie Alge, Therapeutic Services business manager. “Since January, we’ve been in high gear trying to get everything into place, putting in lots of time and thought on this issue.”   “Change is always going to be difficult, but the research shows that many hospitals in the country are going this way,” said Nevitte Swink, MUSC speech pathologist and task force member. “But ultimately we’re here for patient satisfaction. This isn’t something the hospital is just making us do. The patients want it.”   Indeed, patient reports indicate that with the large number of people from numerous disciplines involved in their care, it can be very confusing and difficult to understand who’s who and what their role is in taking care of a patient.   “You have to consider the number of people going in and out of these people’s rooms; students, residents, doctors, nurses, technicians, and so on,” said Stephanie Chomos, R.N., 7E nurse/unit educator and task force member. “It’s scary to be sick and away from home. Having no sense of who’s taking care of you on top of that can be very difficult and makes it even harder to build a trusting relationship with caregivers. I’m the first one to admit that I’m not great about walking into a room and saying my name and what area or profession I represent. It behooves us to let the patients know who we are in an easily identifiable way, like the dress code.” Cast your vote! MUSC Medical Center staff can vote for the scrub color of their choice Oct. 31, through Nov. 21. The voting Web site is user-friendly and requires an MNA password. To get an MNA password or locate a forgotten one, go to http://www.musc.edu/infoservices/mna.html for information or sign-up. Pick-up for account passwords is located at the medical center security desk or the library. Employees must have a password to vote. In the Children’s Hospital Lobby on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, all the scrub colors listed on the voting Web site will be available for viewing from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The scrubs will not be for sale on those days.     Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.