Every day I see doctors/hospital staff scurrying about town (basically anywhere in the Spring Garden/Robie/South Park vicinity) in their scrubs. This makes me cringe. Are these the same scrubs that you’re wearing while doing rounds, working in labs, or while meeting with patients? If you change from those gross city-scum scrubs into clean ones once you get to work, then why are you wearing them at all? I find this really disgusting… I’m sure surgeons or others working in sterile environments don’t do this, so no, I’m not including them in this rant. While I don’t even know the degree of germ threat this involves, I know that some hospitals (UK in particular) ban long-sleeves because short-sleeved, clean arms are, well, cleaner than sleeves, so I’m assuming that at least someone thinks bacteria can be tracked in on clothing. But I still think it’s gross. blech.
The reverse point is kind of disgusting too – dragging germs and goo from hospitals into the public (yes, I’m sure if you get a bed pan spilled on you, you probably change your outfit, but I’m talking just everyday ick)…ewww. —flesh eating disease spokesperson
This article appears in Jun 6-12, 2013.
don’t you get it? it’s because they all want to be as cool as all the doctor stars on TV!
if you see one out and about chances are they are one of those cool people.
Plus other chances are they’re covered in M.A.R.S. Cool Huh!
Most building materials are porous, to some degree or another. Especially finishes (flooring, wall boards, ceiling tiles…). Hospitals are high traffic areas, and a lot of that traffic is sick people (obviously). Bacteria, germs, viruses love to hide in all the dark corners and pores of whatever surface they come into contact with. When you attempt to clean these materials it’s actually impossible to remove the germs because they’ve impregnated themselves into their host material. You actually have to remove and replace the material to be assured the area is decontaminated.
More modern materials have anti-microbials in them, essentially making the material itself harmful to bacteria and germs.
Anyways, Hospitals are “bacterial cesspools” because of a build up over time of germs, not so much because the nurses and doctors head out to SGR for lunch everyday (not saying that habit doesn’t track in germs, but that it’s not the main concern)
I am certain that you, OB, have at some point visited someone in the hospital. So… did you make sure that you brought a clean pair of clothes with you to change into?
Well, OB, many hospital staff must travel between sites several times a day. I was one of those people. It’s not possible to change clothes every time we come in and out of those doors. Also, “scrub” staff interact with the public all day long, within the walls of the hospital. Do you think that visitors, clinic patients, etc. are changing their clothes before they walk out the hospital doors? Wouldn’t that make them guilty of carrying hospital germs into the public as well? (Most) hospital staff do their best to minimize the spread of germs through good hand hygiene.
How about not feeling the need to wear labcoats around town like some kind of superhero?
This must be Howie Mandel’s post…
Try a third world hospital, then come back and complain.
I think that’s ob’s point…it’s not the third world; maybe standards should be higher and it’s not unreasonable to expect them to be?
Nurses and docs save lives. That, essentially, makes us superheroes! *Fist pump*
You won’t be disliking it when you’re the one bleeding out on a stretcher lol
OB why are you worried about them wearing scrubs outside? Because of germs? Well since they are dealing with the sick, you should be more concerned with what they MIGHT bring out rather than what they bring in. But the chances of a doctor or nurse unleashing the plague on us unsuspecting citizens is negligible, unless you are a Stephen King fan.
Germaphobes like OB are why there are superbugs. Absurd bitch. Try worrying about the housekeeping staffing levels IN the hospital if you want something to get your knickers in a knot about.
Hezz – http://t.qkme.me/3t7r8l.jpg
Nice one, Captain! 🙂
Unless there’s some sort of bodily fluid directly on the clothes, then the concentration of bacteria is probably negligible. Your hands carry far more bacteria because you use them to touch everything, which is why hospitals have strict handwashing practices. Admittedly, though, the rate of handwashing could probably be better in a lot of hospitals.
meh… if dirty scrubs are your biggest worry with regards to contagions in a hospital, you don’t want to know what you’re missing..
There are hundreds if not thousands of people coming in and out of the hospitals each day. I’m sure very few change their clothes before they leave the premises. Think outside of patients and staff. Tradesmen, delivery people etc. I can’t see the UPS guy carrying a change of brown uniforms for each hospital he/she goes into.
Germs are actually good for you OP. They give the immune system a workout and keep it sharp.
Your tendency to worry is what you should worry about ; )
two exes ago was a doctor – not exactly but almost. A resident. He reminded me of that kid on charlie brown and i swear i could always see a giant orbit of sickness around him.
I couldn’t get past that. Not sure why since the entire time we were together i didn’t once get sick.
my point is, maybe doctors know what they’re doing. Cripes, it’s not like they’re working in an underground neutrino facility.
fyi, residents are doctors, they’ve completed medical school and have an MD, they just haven’t finished their specialization.
If you’re that afraid of germs, OB, you should probably go out and buy yourself a big giant plastic bubble now.
A little dirt strengthens the immune system. Quit bein’ a paranoiac. Only the strong survive!
Hospital germs have some of the best BJJ in the world. But good, solid wrestling and SAMBO can overcome that.