Clothes Don’t Make the Urgent Care Physician—But They Make an Impression on the Patient

There was a time when physicians dressed to the nines while on the job; you’d think they were on their way to a 19^th century ball, actually, according to a recent post in Advisory Board. That was also an era of tinctures and salves that had very little to do with the science aspect of medicine, however. As times changed, so did the provider’s “uniform.” Doctors adopted the traditional white coat in order to look more like scientists. The point is, what clinicians wear makes an impression on patients. And, like patient preferences, what’s considered appropriate and reassuring should change with the times. While some patients may still prefer the familiar white coat, many find scrubs equally appealing. In some urgent care centers, providers may even go for a business-casual look. As the Advisory Board post points out, the key is to present an image that puts the patient at ease and strikes an image of professionalism, support, and empathy for the patient among all staff members. Alan Ayers addressed this very subject from an urgent care perspective in Image Check: Impact of Employee Appearance on the Patient Experience. Read it in the JUCM archive.