Subject: Digest Number 1257 Lab Coats

[Guest guest]

I agree that home laundering is perhaps not as good as professional

laundering (if I launder something in hot water and bleach, how is

that *inferior* to professional cleaning? Just curious). But it is

still better than wandering around all day with pathogenic schmutz

on your street clothes.

 

I've worked with western medical facilities in one way or another

since 1976. My husband teaches in a medical school and I visit there

all of the time. I go to a HMO clinic for yearly ladies exams and

other necessary evils. I go to the orthodontist for monthly

torture, er, dental alignment. But NONE of them wear *disposable*

lab coats! Where are you practicing that " everyone " wears

disposable lab coats? I'd like to investigate this further. I bet

they look extremely cheezy. Like the guys at the meat packing

plant :-) That's sure the mental image I'd like to leave with my

patients :-) .

 

And I bet you look really professional in whatever you wear, too!

(You do wear clothing, right? Disposable?? :-) )

 

Best Regards,

 

Rachel H. Peterman, M.S., J.D.

" The Coco Chanel of TCM "

 

 

Chinese Medicine , Five Elements

<gabriellemathieu> wrote:

>

> Rachel,

>

> ok, good points. But home laundering is not sufficient to

> disinfect lab coats, if we're talking OSHA. Therefore,

> laundered and pressed is really not the issue. Most Western

> med clinics have gone to disposable lab coats, made out of

> some wierd synthetic (non-absorbable) material. Only the

> docs sometimes show in freshly pressed lab coats,if they

> wear coats.

> I'm sure you look very professional in your coat though.

> Gabrielle

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just asked my wife, the chief of OBGYN at northern CA large HMO about dress

code. She says less than 50% of male Dr wear a tie to clinic but most still

wear a coat, mostly for the name tag. I guess we in the west are not as formal.

I have worked and taught in WM circles for over 10 years and have seen some very

casual practitioners and it never impaired their practices or academic standing.

I do have to support Rachel however regarding regional accreditation. That is

the only hope for the future of this profession if we are to achieve any real

standing.

As an aside, needling through clothing was done all the time in China during

winter cold months.

 

 

 

 

 

Oakland, CA 94609

 

 

-

goldenlotuspublishing

Chinese Medicine

Saturday, January 21, 2006 8:56 PM

Re: Digest Number 1257 Lab Coats

 

 

I agree that home laundering is perhaps not as good as professional

laundering (if I launder something in hot water and bleach, how is

that *inferior* to professional cleaning? Just curious). But it is

still better than wandering around all day with pathogenic schmutz

on your street clothes.

 

I've worked with western medical facilities in one way or another

since 1976. My husband teaches in a medical school and I visit there

all of the time. I go to a HMO clinic for yearly ladies exams and

other necessary evils. I go to the orthodontist for monthly

torture, er, dental alignment. But NONE of them wear *disposable*

lab coats! Where are you practicing that " everyone " wears

disposable lab coats? I'd like to investigate this further. I bet

they look extremely cheezy. Like the guys at the meat packing

plant :-) That's sure the mental image I'd like to leave with my

patients :-) .

 

And I bet you look really professional in whatever you wear, too!

(You do wear clothing, right? Disposable?? :-) )

 

Best Regards,

 

Rachel H. Peterman, M.S., J.D.

" The Coco Chanel of TCM "

 

 

Chinese Medicine , Five Elements

<gabriellemathieu> wrote:

>

> Rachel,

>

> ok, good points. But home laundering is not sufficient to

> disinfect lab coats, if we're talking OSHA. Therefore,

> laundered and pressed is really not the issue. Most Western

> med clinics have gone to disposable lab coats, made out of

> some wierd synthetic (non-absorbable) material. Only the

> docs sometimes show in freshly pressed lab coats,if they

> wear coats.

> I'm sure you look very professional in your coat though.

> Gabrielle

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

I agree wholeheartedly, I've encouraged PCOM in this direction. I

hope it will happen in the next few years. Regional accreditation is

a hurdle the schools must pass.

 

 

On Jan 22, 2006, at 10:37 AM, wrote:

 

> I do have to support Rachel however regarding regional

> accreditation. That is the only hope for the future of this

> profession if we are to achieve any real standing.

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Rachel,

 

" I agree that home laundering is perhaps not as

good as professional laundering (if I launder

something in hot water and bleach, how is that

*inferior* to professional cleaning? Just

curious). But it is still better than wandering

around all day with pathogenic schmutz on your

street clothes. "

 

Actually, if you are cleaning to eliminate

" pathogenic schumtz " from lab coats, and not just

clean them, the laundry has to cleaned to OHSA

standards. This is true of any clothing that is a

biohazard barrier, i.e., any PPE - Personal

Protective Equipment, vs. " just " a uniform.

 

Now, I am not sure where do you get the idea that

lab coats are " standard " primary care and

hospital wear. In the Pacific NW US, at least in

the Seattle area and in Yamhill County, Oregon,

white coats are very much optional for

physicians, in hospital and ambulatory care. And,

unfortunately, white coats are not required for

" white coat HTN " !

 

Lynn