Letter to the Editor

On “The Scrub Revolution: From Hospital Uniform to Public Attire”

Authors: David N. Garza, M.A.

Abstract

To the Editor: When I visit public spaces near hospitals, I am not disturbed by the sight of people in scrubs who are eating lunch at a nearby table or waiting in line to purchase coffee. One of the reasons for my nonchalance surely has something to do with my occupation; I work closely with medical professionals in a nonclinical setting, so I have become largely desensitized to the presence of V-neck shirts and white laboratory coats in my daily life. The other factor contributing to my composure is the sheer ubiquity of scrubs within the modern work uniform. The people wearing scrubs who are eating or waiting in line could be physicians with an inordinate number of pathogens clinging to their clothes, yes, but they also could be nurses, technicians, receptionists, veterinarians, or even masseuses. Scrubs are no longer restricted to the confines of the hospital operating room--that much is clear. The exact ramifications of this widespread shift are not as readily apparent, however.

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References

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