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Why Lab Coats Turned White

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Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#11

Post by manarth »

zabzonk wrote: post #8
manarth wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "our coats were white because we used to write on them" It's hard to tell whether this is a deliberately trolling statement, a fantastical Walter Mitty style statement, or something else. Coats weren't white for anyone to write on, and clinical staff didn't routinely write on their clothes.

> Coats weren't white for anyone to write on, and clinical staff didn't routinely write on their clothes. I wasn't a medic, I was a microbiologist. And I can assure you we did write all over them.

    > "I can assure you we did write all over them"
You and your colleagues deliberately chose to carry a magic-marker (and no paper), in order to deliberately write on your clothes, rather than the more simple expedient of paper and pen/pencil?

This seems irrational, inexpedient, and inappropriate for anyone delivering any aspect of medical care.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#12

Post by zabzonk »

manarth wrote: post #11
zabzonk wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Coats weren't white for anyone to write on, and clinical staff didn't routinely write on their clothes. I wasn't a medic, I was a microbiologist. And I can assure you we did write all over them.

> "I can assure you we did write all over them" You and your colleagues deliberately chose to carry a magic-marker (and no paper), in order to deliberately write on your clothes, rather than the more simple expedient of paper and pen/pencil? This seems irrational, inexpedient, and inappropriate for anyone delivering any aspect of medical care.

Yes, we did all that - we had to carry markers to label culture media in containers such as petri dishes and universal containers. You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat.

I did say we were sloppy.

We were not in contact with any patients and at least in the UK, no-one that is ever wears a white coat these days.

I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#14

Post by manarth »

zabzonk wrote: post #12
manarth wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "I can assure you we did write all over them" You and your colleagues deliberately chose to carry a magic-marker (and no paper), in order to deliberately write on your clothes, rather than the more simple expedient of paper and pen/pencil? This seems irrational, inexpedient, and inappropriate for anyone delivering any aspect of medical care.

Yes, we did all that - we had to carry markers to label culture media in containers such as petri dishes and universal containers. You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat. I did say we were sloppy. We were not in contact with any patients and at least in the UK, no-one that is ever wears a white coat these days. I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this…

    > I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this.
It's an extraordinary claim, which usually would require extraordinary proof. I've also worked in UK healthcare, albeit in a patient-facing role rather than a back-office or technician role.

The whole process would raise so many questions.

    > "You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat"
Surely if notes were taken on a labcoat, these would then have to be copied into a more permanent form? As you've said, the coats are washed, which makes the coat a very short-term data-storage device.

I have a whole bunch of white t-shirts, and wear a white t-shirt pretty much every day. It's never once occurred to me to write an appointment-time, a phone number, or a shopping-list on my t-shirt.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#15

Post by infinitewars »

zabzonk wrote: post #4

When I worked in the NHS, our coats were far from white because we used to write on them, in magic marker, things like specimen numbers, doctors and nurses names, phone numbers etc. that we had to deal with queries about. I was always impressed that the laundry managed to get them pristine white again. Of course this was just us sloppy men - female techs carried useful things like notebooks (paper) and biros. And now…

Did you write on them because a notebook could cross contaminate while the coats are sterilized safely? Did you wash the markers?

I wonder how people handle this now? With IP68 tablets, you can probably just dunk the whole thing in alcohol.

(Also thanks for sharing such an interesting anecdote)

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#16

Post by infinitewars »

manarth wrote: post #14
zabzonk wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, we did all that - we had to carry markers to label culture media in containers such as petri dishes and universal containers. You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat. I did say we were sloppy. We were not in contact with any patients and at least in the UK, no-one that is ever wears a white coat these days. I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this…

> I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this. It's an extraordinary claim, which usually would require extraordinary proof. I've also worked in UK healthcare, albeit in a patient-facing role rather than a back-office or technician role. The whole process would raise so many questions. > "You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat" Surely if notes were taken…

I think it makes sense, notebooks are hard to sterilize.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#17

Post by throwaway173738 »

manarth wrote: post #14
zabzonk wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, we did all that - we had to carry markers to label culture media in containers such as petri dishes and universal containers. You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat. I did say we were sloppy. We were not in contact with any patients and at least in the UK, no-one that is ever wears a white coat these days. I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this…

> I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this. It's an extraordinary claim, which usually would require extraordinary proof. I've also worked in UK healthcare, albeit in a patient-facing role rather than a back-office or technician role. The whole process would raise so many questions. > "You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat" Surely if notes were taken…

I don’t find it hard to believe. I’ve written tons of notes on my arms and hands when working product support. When I briefly framed houses we would do all our math and diagramming on lumber. Either studs in the wall or scraps from the floor. You write on whatever you have handy.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#18

Post by manarth »

infinitewars wrote: post #16
manarth wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I find it somewhat offensive that I am lying and/or unprofessional about this. It's an extraordinary claim, which usually would require extraordinary proof. I've also worked in UK healthcare, albeit in a patient-facing role rather than a back-office or technician role. The whole process would raise so many questions. > "You can easily misplace a notepad, but its hard to lose your labcoat" Surely if notes were taken…

I think it makes sense, notebooks are hard to sterilize.

    > notebooks are hard to sterilize
Washing / sterilizing the lab coat has the same effect as erasing the data written on it.

There isn't a library of lab coats which contain notes written on them, for future consultation.

A notepad page is also easier to permanently sterilize (via incineration) than a lab coat.

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#19

Post by OJFord »

zabzonk wrote: post #4

When I worked in the NHS, our coats were far from white because we used to write on them, in magic marker, things like specimen numbers, doctors and nurses names, phone numbers etc. that we had to deal with queries about. I was always impressed that the laundry managed to get them pristine white again. Of course this was just us sloppy men - female techs carried useful things like notebooks (paper) and biros. And now…

> And nowadays in the NHS you will be hard-pressed to spot a white coat - people wear ordinary clothes, scrubs, or nurses uniforms. At least that's my impression as a recent in-patient.

Yeah, they were banned in the name of hygiene (sleeve length) not that long ago. 2007 in England & 2014 in Scotland I think.

The BMA has some lingering objection to it from what I understand, but since Covid they're all in scrubs anyway. If they want prestige and distinction from nurses/PAs it would probably make more sense to do differently coloured scrubs, as they do in some US TV shows (but not all; no idea about reality).

Re: Why Lab Coats Turned White

#20

Post by mock-possum »

zabzonk wrote: post #4

When I worked in the NHS, our coats were far from white because we used to write on them, in magic marker, things like specimen numbers, doctors and nurses names, phone numbers etc. that we had to deal with queries about. I was always impressed that the laundry managed to get them pristine white again. Of course this was just us sloppy men - female techs carried useful things like notebooks (paper) and biros. And now…

> Of course this was just us sloppy men - female techs…

What an odd thing to say

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