Comments on: Manolo the Columnist

By: zanthine

zanthine — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:02:52 +0000

Why do we wear scrubs instead of starched white uniforms? Because when the pt with the ruptured esophogeal varicies bleeds out all over me it doesn’t show. And i can take the hospital owned scrubs, toss them back in the bin, get fresh ones, and avoid taking all the germs home to my family. Shesh, do you *know* what I get exposed to every night at work!

By: Fausta

Fausta — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:23:29 +0000

Last year we were at the shore (a.k.a. beach) when this guy walks by in green scrubs (top & slacks). Since I associate green scrubs with pain, and trust me on this, there was not a surgical facility in miles, I consider it in very poor taste.

That was the only time I have commented on someone’s “fashion” out loud so he could hear it, but I did say “One would think he’d make enough money to wear clothes that don’t remind people of illness”. I may have acted in poor taste, but it was time to say something.

By: Dani

Dani — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:58:46 +0000

Jenny,
I really do expect doctors to change. I don’t mean they have to get dressed up. I do mean they have to change out of the scrubs they just wore to the OR. Here, those are Barney purple, to prevent people from wearing them around the hospital (or, God forbid) out of the hospital. The germ thing goes both ways. I agree that when you’re tired it is nice to slip on another pair of scrubs instead of getting all gussied up, so it’s okay for on-call or post-call docs to wear (clean) scrubs. I just think the privilege is abused. Since you have to change anyway, you might as well put on some real clothes. On the other hand, I really have operated with pearls on (and high heels- it was an emergency- not to be repeated- I’d go barefoot with double shoe covers first). The silk was hanging in the locker room, though!

By: jenny

jenny — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 21:26:48 +0000

I dunno. My brother-in-law’s a general surgeon, and he dresses quite well, generally. Well-pressed dress shirts w/a tie and trousers (of course). But he’s getting called in all the time to help on operations, or is literally on-call, or is just plain too exhausted to peel off the scrubs & dress up sometimes. I mean, give the poor folks a break!

Were it attorneys or stock brokers were were discussing, that would be a different matter indeed. But you couldn’t very well ask a construction worker to immediately change into business-casual the second she/he finishes jackhammering a sidewalk; or a baker to wear designer silk crepe under his/her apron.

By: Pencils

Pencils — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 19:03:33 +0000

My gastroenterologist wears Hermes ties and beautiful shoes–I’m not sure what kind, as I’m not very knowledgeable about men’s shoes, but they are obviously beautifully made and expensive–in the office. I wouldn’t go to him if he were not a wonderful doctor, but I somehow feel better knowing that he values things that are both beautiful and well made. It speaks of an attention to detail, which is exactly what I want in a man who is manipulating tiny tools through my biliary system on a regular basis.

By: Elvira

Elvira — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 17:40:16 +0000

What an interesting line of discussion, dearest Manolo. My internist is rather small and prefers a baggy white coat that obscures the dress underneath. She does consistently wear beautiful shoes, however. A gynecologist always looked as if she could whip off the white coat, add a string of pearls, and go out to a nice dinner and the opera with her husband.

When I left her practice, I shifted to a doctor who worked on the sixth floor of a building. My first appointment was scheduled for right after lunch. I got on the elevator with a distinguished-looking older gentleman who wore the most beautiful black leather jacket I had ever seen. It is hard to describe, but it was quite elegant. It spoke of good taste, wealth, and intelligence. This older gentleman turned out to be my new gynecologist, of course. Last year, when I required minor surgery that had to be performed at a hospital, he showed up beforehand once again wearing a nice black pants and an oxford shirt. He even had an air of dignity later when I saw him in his scrubs. Granted, were he a jerk or poor communicator, I would have dumped him like a pair of second-hand Birkenstocks, but his appearance reinforces my confidence in him.

I think it is easy for harried medical personnel to forget that a professional appearance reassures patients, so thanks for reminding them, Manolo.

By: cheryls

cheryls — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 08:55:29 +0000

Yeah! We should all dress like Addison Shepard! Minus the coat - coats are for students.

By: Tinuviel

Tinuviel — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 05:20:34 +0000

As an intern, I always thought the scrubs and a starched white coat look was rather sharp. Scrubs on their own are Not Attractive, especially if you are, for example, a portly orthopedic surgeon whose scrub pants hang low, displaying the unfortunate “plumber” look. After a while, I quit wearing scrubs, as I associated them with a 36-hr shift, i.e., pain.

Now I don’t even wear a white coat anymore. Thierry Rabotins are my stylish comfort shoes of choice.

By: Phyllis

Phyllis — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 02:10:00 +0000

Manolo asks, when did the doctors first begin to dress like the mental patients?

… I’d wager it happened the day managed care took over.

By: Dani

Dani — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:44:19 +0000

Manolo is absolutely correct, as usual. Plus, if the scrubs do happen to be the surgeon’s attire, one must wonder where they’ve BEEN (Shoes, too- ick). Doctors have been told repeatedly they should wear the white coat (true for all but pediatricians and psychiatrists) so this leads to them thinking that is ALL that is required. Though, I did have a partner once who wore scrubs because he did not have to admit that he had become rather portly through the years.

I would also recommend the Bruno Magli Molly which is slightly more ornamented than the Nanico but otherwise identical. For me with the unhappy feet, it has been a treasured addition, considering the prior pair of black pumps I got were Trotters. Plus, they are on sale at Sierra Traders, normally the bastion of the dreaded comfort shoe, but with an occasional flash of the superfantastic.