White Coat vs. Blue Coat

[gatoradedrinker]

I'm sure many of you have seen Nip/Tuck. You'll notice that the two main doctors (Troy and MacNamara) often wear blue coats rather than white ones.

Here's an example, found it from an online medical coat retailer:
http://www.labcoatworld.com/images/large/_3163_LRG.jpg

It might make sense for physicians to wear these if they often perform procedures - stains would be less visible. I actually found an article which alludes to this same point: http://www.amsa.org/tnp/articles/article.cfx?id=155

What're your experiences, if any, with physicians who stray from the traditional white coat? In the medical environment, would you say these doctors are "less visible?" Are there hospital policies in place which mandate or strongly recommend one over the other?

Just curious.

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[Caesar]

Some of the ER docs I know have Grey coats and White coats. It's just whichever they feel like grabbing that day. The plastics ladies always wear baby blue coats where I am.

 

[Lukkie]

they should wear red coats so you cant see the blood

 

[MossPoh]

I can't believe this is a thread topic....

 

[tkim]

I can't believe this is a thread topic....

This is pre-allo.

 

[BlueElmo]

I can't believe this is a thread topic....

I think we are way too bored now that summer break has started.

 

[LizzyM]

I suspect that this is related to how blue photographs in comparison to white.

 

[Caesar]

This is pre-allo.

seconded.

And hey, it is more exciting that answering for the one billionth time the differences between DO and MD, or better yet, whether a drop to a 3.5 from a 3.51 is going to kill someones chances.

 

[gatoradedrinker]

I can't believe this is a thread topic....

You're missing the point and the underlying purpose of the question.

The white coat can serve as a representation of knowledge and therefore, a symbol of trust. To expound about how that would be valuable in the doctor-patient relationship would be futile because at this point, it should be common knowledge to the regulars of this forum.

Tons of articles have been written on the importance of the white coat and it's connection to various ethical concerns. One such example is that regarding the therapeutic misconception. The sheer fact that both researchers and physicians share similar medical garb can be a source of confusion for patients. Misunderstanding the purposes/objectives/conflicts of interest inherent within each position is often influenced by attire - this is backed by empirical evidence. Similar concerns can hold true with other medical professionals as well - PAs, DNPs, RNs, MD/DOs, etc. - all wearing the white coat.

Now, I just recently learned that the blue coat is also a viable option for physicians and was simply curious about its popularity. But, maybe I should've been more clear and perhaps this topic would be better suited for the Allo/Osteo forum.

 

[dw2158]

plastics ladies

hee hee. not sure why this made me laugh. 🙂

they should wear red coats so you cant see the blood

what about the feces, bile, vomit, urine, mucus... need i go on? 😀

 

[Omni]

what about the feces, bile, vomit, urine, mucus... need i go on? 😀

Rainbow colored coat. Now that's where it's at.

 

[Myuu]

hee hee. not sure why this made me laugh. 🙂



what about the feces, bile, vomit, urine, mucus... need i go on? 😀

Brown, green, browngreenredblueclear (maybe just a poncho), yellow, clear/yellow/green... a different lab coat for every occasion!

 

[dw2158]

Brown, green, browngreenredblueclear (maybe just a poncho), yellow, clear/yellow/green... a different lab coat for every occasion!

or a technicolor dreamcoat that would camouflage it all! or come to think of it, maybe doctors should just wear camo!

 

[Myuu]

or a technicolor dreamcoat that would camouflage it all! or come to think of it, maybe doctors should just wear camo!

That can be arranged and at no monetary cost to you!

 

[dw2158]

That can be arranged and at no monetary cost to you!

score! (although i don't imagine being $300,000 in debt and being $300,050 in debt feel all that different 🙂)

 

[Myuu]

score! (although i don't imagine being $300,000 in debt and being $300,050 in debt feel all that different 🙂)

I was thinking more along the lines of free medical education in exchange for X years of your life as per military service contract.

 

[Lukkie]

or a technicolor dreamcoat that would camouflage it all! or come to think of it, maybe doctors should just wear camo!

It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And red and yellow and green and brown and
Scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And blue

 

[phonyreal98]

It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And red and yellow and green and brown and
Scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And blue

I look handsome I look smart,
I am a walking work of art
Such a dazzling coat of many colors,
How I love my coat of many colors!

 

[dw2158]

I was thinking more along the lines of free medical education in exchange for X years of your life as per military service contract.

hahahaha. i am so dense sometimes.

It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And red and yellow and green and brown and
Scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And blue

yeeeees

 

[Beta Cell]

I imagine white coats are useful because you can bleach them? Blue coats are for the cool kids. No coat is for the coolest of kids (House).

 

[DrJonesss]

I'm going to actually take you seriously and answer this...I'm assuming that in a private practice like the docs on nip/tuck had, the whole "white coat of knowledge" thing isn't really as important...it's not hard to spot the doctor, and a patient would tend to assume that someone leading/co-owning a practice is decently qualified at what they do. So as long as they look professional, I don't think it matters what color the coat is.

However, I think a white coat is much more necessary in a hospital setting, when a patient needs to locate a physician among a sea of other staff.

 

[BJPENNSTATE]

I'm going to actually take you seriously and answer this...I'm assuming that in a private practice like the docs on nip/tuck had, the whole "white coat of knowledge" thing isn't really as important...it's not hard to spot the doctor, and a patient would tend to assume that someone leading/co-owning a practice is decently qualified at what they do. So as long as they look professional, I don't think it matters what color the coat is.

However, I think a white coat is much more necessary in a hospital setting, when a patient needs to locate a physician among a sea of other staff.

some nurses wear white coats. the coats are only good for the big pocket size and nothing else.

only douchebag doctors wear the white coat when they go out for lunch.

 

[mcgyver]

Rainbow colored coat. Now that's where it's at.

you just need a black coat to best mask stains of all colors.

but i guess black is not really an option?

 

[runrunrudolph1]

I imagine white coats are useful because you can bleach them? Blue coats are for the cool kids. No coat is for the coolest of kids (House).

hahahahaa yessss

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

I'd like a pink coat. 👍

 

[Compass]

I'd like a Caduceus Coat.

Come on! Short sleeve? Awesome logo?

 

[CptCrunch]

Rainbow colored coat. Now that's where it's at.

That would be sweet.

 

[WilsonFan]

The white coat can serve as a representation of knowledge and therefore, a symbol of trust. To expound about how that would be valuable in the doctor-patient relationship would be futile because at this point, it should be common knowledge to the regulars of this forum.

Yeah, but one could argue that it's just a matter of time and media-circulated photos for society to convert the mindset to a different dress. There weren't ORs back in the day, and somehow we now view scrubs as a symbol of trust (at least I do).

Maybe if they started wearing checkered burgundy/black coats no one would think twice 20 years from now

 

[MossPoh]

In private practice the white coat spiel is not as frequent. I've spent way too much time in a hospital setting for various reasons and most of the docs didn't even wear a white coat unless it was something serious. I know a few ER docs that had gray ones. They liked it because you didn't have to wash them as much. Unless you scotch guard those things they stain real fast and start looking pretty dingy. When I think back, 2 of the EM guys and our Urologists were the only ones that consistently wore any kind of coat. My dad didn't even know where his was.

 

[student1799]

However, I think a white coat is much more necessary in a hospital setting, when a patient needs to locate a physician among a sea of other staff.

Unfortunately, patients seem to assume that anyone with a hospital-issued photo ID is a doctor (or nurse, for that matter). I volunteered in a busy ED for 2 years, never wore scrubs, and yet I was mistaken for a doctor multiple times--even by hospital employees. Yes, I'm much older than the average premed, but it still struck me as pretty ridiculous, considering that my name tag said "volunteer" in nice big letters.

 

[Myuu]

Unfortunately, patients seem to assume that anyone with a hospital-issued photo ID is a doctor (or nurse, for that matter). I volunteered in a busy ED for 2 years, never wore scrubs, and yet I was mistaken for a doctor multiple times--even by hospital employees. Yes, I'm much older than the average premed, but it still struck me as pretty ridiculous, considering that my name tag said "volunteer" in nice big letters.

Most people just assumed I was a nurse, despite the uniform and ID. At the hospital I was at, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists wore white coats as they saw fit. In anesthesiology, though, they had maroon ones...