Digitaldoc's Residency Diary

Full sleeve white coats that look sparkling, clean & scientific also harbor resistant hospital germs like C.Diff, MRSA etc. that make nosocomial infections more likely. In fact, Residents & physicians at the prestigious Mayo clinic wear only full business attire, no white coats:

"More than 2,800 staff physicians wear business attire, unless they are in surgical scrubs, to convey professionalism and expertise. It's a dress code that some outside Mayo have called "pretentious," yet we'd argue that it's no more pretentious than, say, the dress code for airline pilots. Airline passengers don't want to see their pilot in a polo shirt, and patients feel the same way about doctors."

Source : Why Docs Don't Wear White Coats or Polo Shirts at the Mayo Clinic




The same might soon be a norm all over US if AMA decides to pass a resolution to that effect. Hmmm..I probably would favor banning them at least within hospitals and ICUs..while keeping them going in outpatient clinics. Scrubs that are washed in house daily would be a good substitute for inpatient care

These makes great reads :
- The doctor’s white coat—an historical perspective - Mark S. Hochberg, MD
- Why Do doctor's wear white coats?