My patients sometimes comment on the idea that physician education ignores nutritional research. seldom mentioned.

Having grown up with a mother and two sisters, it’s hard to imagine anyone less fashion conscious than me. A distant memory of mine includes a terrifying shopping trip with her mother choosing ridiculous outfits and declaring them “exactly what they wear.” Perhaps as soon as I could speak, my response was, “Who are ‘they’ and why should I care?” Then and now, my usual fashion statements could be issued by a political spokesperson. “No statement at this time”.

Despite my fashion allergies, patients sometimes comment favorably on my apparel, usually a tie that complements my shirt. I usually respond by asking if their eye care is up to date . When I’m seriously cornered, I vomit something like “Even if I close my eyes and swing, sometimes the ball hits me.”

Given this attitude, I was surprised to learn that I’ve been publicly speaking out about doctors and fashion lately. I asked them to provide lessons learned from patient care. Charity they allotted 20 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, studies have shown that patients prefer their doctors to wear slightly more formal attire and lab coats. But the pandemic, whose effects are pervasive, has changed that dynamic. Physicians doing video visits can now dress as they please, at least from the waist down. increase. As informality spreads like a virus, we are starting to see doctors in the office dressed like they would at home and even wearing surgical scrubs.

I asked a colleague how hard it is to take a few extra minutes to reassure people you might care about. It’s not about fashion, it’s about caring.

I will admit to my informal colleagues that I am not dressed to offend a long-term inpatient whose trust has long been established. However, new patients make decisions based on the first visit. For male doctors, wearing a tie reflects an understanding that patients feel more at ease with who they see ‘own game’. Especially for older people, which traditionally comes down to wearing a tie, how hard is it to dedicate a few extra minutes to reassure people you might care about? I asked my colleague. It’s not about fashion, it’s about caring.

Women, of course, are indifferent to the necktie issue. However, professional attire is still important for healthcare workers.

scrub? There are 3 reasons to wear them. Scrubbing is necessary in the operating room because ordinary clothing creates airborne contaminants. In the emergency department, procedures can stain your clothes. But neither issue applies to outpatient primary care. I suspect patients are aware that primary care doctors wear scrubs. Scrubbing makes getting dressed easier, but it also contributes to an aura of urgency and time pressure befitting an emergency department. Outpatient care should focus on reflection. A pipe and tweed coat may not be necessary, but a long-sleeved shirt and tie, or the female equivalent, makes sense.

To confess, I only wear a white coat for photo shoots and special occasions. The Almighty set my thermostat a little high and the extra layer caused me to overheat rapidly.I recently left a clinic to administer her Evusheld, an injectable drug that protects an immunosuppressed patient from her COVID. supported. The patient didn’t know me, so I took advantage of the extra “cooling time” and wore a lab coat that felt like Marcus Welby’s Halloween costume.

A week after speaking with a colleague, I didn’t see any noticeable difference in their dress habits. They will probably change deep-rooted personal habits just because of the threat of death or coverage. And probably not in that order. But that’s fine. Over 30 years later, I’m used to people not taking my advice. This is an occupational hazard, both for the patient and for me. I’m going to continue walking as a bit of a stiff medical dinosaur, with a stethoscope, tie, and bullhorn on at the same time.

Daniel Stone He is the Regional Medical Director of the Cedars-Sinai Valley Network and an internist and geriatrician of the Cedars Sinai Medical Group. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of Cedars-Sinai.