Jordan Ellis
Hospital gowns are a necessary part of the healthcare system, catering to the diverse needs of patients and healthcare procedures. They are designed to balance patient dignity, comfort, and medical accessibility. However, the standard hospital gown design has been widely criticised for being uncomfortable, embarrassing, and compromising patients' dignity. As a result, hospitals are increasingly exploring alternative designs that improve the patient experience while still providing easy access for medical professionals. This shift is driven by both financial incentives to improve patient satisfaction scores and efforts to prioritise patient care. This evolution in hospital gown design opens up opportunities for innovation in functionality, aesthetics, and patient-centred experiences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Comfort | Soft, breathable, lightweight |
| Ease of use | Easy to put on and take off, adjustable ties |
| Aesthetics | Attractive colours, various styles, pockets |
| Dignity | Preserve patient dignity, avoid exposure |
| Functionality | Easy access for medical professionals, accommodate IV lines or monitoring equipment |
| Cost | Cost-effective, affordable |
| Safety | No metal or other materials that can interfere with medical devices |
| Hygiene | Easily changed, disposable, washable |
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What You'll Learn
Fastenings: Buttons, zippers, magnets, snaps, ties, or Velcro
Fastenings are an important consideration when designing hospital gowns. The standard hospital gown has remained largely unchanged, despite reports of discomfort and embarrassment. One of the primary issues with traditional hospital gowns is the use of ties and long fabric laces, which can be uncomfortable, difficult to tie, and get stuck under the patient's body. They are also the main reason why gowns are discarded, as they are often torn off or knotted to the point of being unusable.
As a result, alternative fastenings such as buttons, snaps, zippers, magnets, and Velcro have been suggested. However, each of these options also presents potential drawbacks. For example, snaps can be difficult to replace, have a short lifespan, and pose a choking hazard. Zippers and magnets may interfere with hospital imaging procedures. Velcro, while easier to attach and more secure than traditional ties, can cause skin irritation and infection control issues due to its tendency to attract lint and other particles.
Despite these challenges, some hospitals have successfully implemented alternative designs. For instance, the Cleveland Clinic and Jackson Memorial Hospital have adopted wrap-style gowns with bold prints, and the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit has introduced a robe-like garment. These designs offer improved patient dignity and comfort while still providing medical staff with the necessary access to the patient's body.
In conclusion, when designing hospital gown openings, it is essential to carefully consider the type of fastening used. While ties are traditional, alternative fastenings can provide benefits in terms of patient comfort and dignity. However, the specific needs of patients and medical procedures must also be taken into account to ensure that the chosen fastening is safe and practical for the hospital environment.
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Patient dignity: Gowns that wrap around, tie at the front, or have more coverage
The standard hospital gown has been criticised for being uncomfortable, embarrassing, and compromising patients' dignity. Several hospitals have started offering alternatives that preserve patient dignity while giving medical staff access to the body. These newer gowns offer openings down the side or front, wraparound styles, snap fastenings, pockets, and attractive colours.
Wraparound gowns with front openings are a popular alternative to traditional gowns, offering improved accessibility and patient comfort. They allow patients to easily put on and take off the gown without assistance, enhancing their sense of independence and dignity. The wrap-around design also provides ample coverage, ensuring patients feel secure and comfortable during their hospital stay.
Some gowns feature bathrobe-like ties or standard cloth laces, while others close with snaps along the shoulders and down the sides. Ties and loose gown material can be uncomfortable and tend to get stuck under the patient's body. Ties are also the primary reason gowns are discarded, as they are torn off or knotted such that they cannot be untied. Fastening alternatives such as buttons, snaps, zippers, magnets, and Velcro have been suggested, but each comes with its own set of drawbacks.
Gowns with adaptive features are designed to meet the specific needs of patients with mobility limitations, disabilities, or medical conditions. These gowns may feature additional closures, adjustable straps, or side openings to accommodate medical devices, IV lines, or catheters. Adaptive gowns prioritise patient comfort and dignity, ensuring that medical care can be delivered effectively and inclusively.
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Functionality: Pockets, cardiac monitor slits, and comfort
The functionality, comfort, and dignity of patients are essential considerations when designing hospital gowns. The standard hospital gown has been criticised for being uncomfortable, exposing patients, and compromising their dignity. Therefore, it is essential to design hospital gowns with pockets, cardiac monitor slits, and comfort in mind.
Cardiac monitor slits are essential in accommodating hospital tubes, wires, and other medical equipment. Strategically placed openings or slits allow tubes and wire-connected sensors to be attached to the patient without exposing them or lifting the sleeves. This reduces skin contact with medical lines, decreasing the risks of irritation, infection, and stress. Pockets are also crucial for holding telemetry devices, making it easier for patients to walk around the ward, which is essential for their recovery.
When designing hospital gown openings, it is important to consider the placement of slits and fasteners. Slits and fasteners along the front, back, and sides allow preferential closing of the open seams, enhancing modesty and securing sensor-connected leads or intravenous tubing to the patient. Fastening mechanisms such as buttons, snaps, zippers, magnets, and Velcro can be considered. However, it is important to note that some of these options may present challenges, such as difficulty with hospital imaging or skin irritation.
The comfort of the patient is also a key consideration. Ties and loose gown material can be uncomfortable and tend to get stuck under the patient's body when they roll over in bed. Therefore, it is important to design gowns with minimal loose material and secure ties or fasteners. The weight of the telemetry devices in the pockets should also be considered to prevent the gown from being dragged down, causing discomfort when walking.
Overall, when designing hospital gown openings, it is crucial to focus on functionality, comfort, and dignity. By incorporating strategic slits for medical equipment, secure fasteners, and well-placed pockets, hospital gowns can better serve the needs of patients and medical staff while improving the patient experience.
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Cost: Cost-effective gowns that are easily laundered
Hospital gowns are designed to balance the needs for patient dignity, comfort, and medical accessibility. However, the standard design has been criticised for exposing patients' bodies, making them feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. This has led to efforts to redesign the standard gown to improve patients' experiences. While these redesigns have focused on the needs of patients and clinicians, resulting in costly products, there is a need to also consider the perspectives of other stakeholders, such as manufacturers and launderers, to create cost-effective solutions.
Open-back gowns are generally considered cost-effective, especially when purchased in bulk. They are often designed for single use, reducing laundry costs. However, the need for additional clothing to preserve patient dignity incurs extra costs, and the ties on these gowns are often the reason they are discarded, as they are torn off or knotted.
To address these issues, an adjustable front-opening hospital gown design has been proposed. This design provides improved comfort and privacy for patients, with an overlapping front that can be adjusted to conform to the wearer's preferences. The positioning of the fasteners on the gown can also enhance the aesthetic appearance by hiding them from view. Additionally, the use of snap fasteners or buttons can withstand repeated laundering in hot water.
The fabric used for the front-opening design can also contribute to cost-effectiveness. The first and second front panels can be made from a combination of fabrics, including polyester/nylon, polyester/cotton, cotton/nylon, cotton, polyester/silk, and/or silk/nylon. These fabrics are suitable for repeated high-temperature laundering, reducing the need for frequent replacement.
While the initial investment in improved hospital gown designs may be higher, it will ultimately save money by reducing ongoing laundry and replacement costs. By considering the suggestions from various stakeholders and choosing the right design and fabric, hospitals can create cost-effective solutions that enhance patient experiences.
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Design: Colours, patterns, and styles
The standard hospital gown has long been criticised for being uncomfortable, exposing patients' bodies, and compromising their dignity. As such, hospitals are increasingly adopting new designs that are less embarrassing and more comfortable.
When it comes to colours, patterns, and styles, hospital gowns today come in a wider variety of designs, often matching the colour scheme of the hospital or displaying its logo. For instance, gowns at the Cleveland Clinic feature a bold, graphic print, while those at Miami Transplant Institute have two pockets on the inside, one for a telemetry device and the other for a drain that draws fluid from the surgical site. Gowns at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit resemble robes, while those at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of California San Francisco Medical Center still tie in the back.
Some hospitals offer gowns based on TV and movie characters, such as Disney characters, which are especially popular among child patients. Other hospitals allow patients to wear their own gowns, such as the family of a patient who suffered a severe stroke and made designer hospital gowns with zebra print and pink trim, purple and green batik, Lilly-Pulitzer-inspired prints, and cowboy print.
In terms of fastenings, hospitals are moving away from traditional ties, which can be uncomfortable and get stuck under the patient's body, in favour of alternatives like buttons, snaps, zippers, magnets, and Velcro. However, each of these alternatives has its drawbacks: snaps are difficult to replace and pose a choking hazard, zippers and magnets can interfere with hospital imaging, and Velcro has a short lifespan, causes skin irritation, and can spread disease by harbouring microbes.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditional hospital gowns that tie at the back can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for patients, compromising their dignity. The ties can be hard to reach and knot, and the fabric can loosen easily, exposing patients' bodies.
Some alternative fastenings to ties include buttons, snaps, zippers, magnets, and Velcro. However, these options also present issues: snaps can be a choking hazard, zippers and magnets can interfere with medical imaging, and Velcro can cause skin irritation and spread disease. Wrap-around styles that tie or snap shut at the front are another option, as well as gowns with openings down the side.
Gown openings should provide easy access for medical professionals while preserving patient dignity and comfort. They should be designed with accessibility, comfort, hygiene, privacy, adaptability, and safety in mind. Gowns should be made from soft, lightweight, breathable materials that are gentle on the skin and easily washable.
Several hospitals have implemented improved hospital gown designs. For example, the Cleveland Clinic hired a designer who created a wrap-around gown with a bold graphic print, and Miami fashion designer René Ruiz created gowns with specific features for patients at the Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Miami Transplant Institute. These gowns featured two pockets on the inside, one for a telemetry device and one for a drain, to balance weight distribution during recovery.
