Healing by Leaps and Gowns: A Novel Patient Gowning System to the Rescue

Patient attire is paramount to a patient’s dignity and hospital experience. The traditional hospital gown is dehumanizing, anachronistic, and was designed for providers’ convenience. In this descriptive, prospective follow-up to our previous pilot study, we evaluated male and female medical and surgical patients and provider preference and experience with a novel patient gowning system, the Patient Access Linen System (PALS). This study was conducted in 2 hospitals within our health system. Our objective was to assess patient and provider satisfaction, experience, and preference using the PALS. A multiple-choice, free response survey was administered to patients and providers following the use of an item. A total of 315 patients and 249 staff in 2 hospitals completed surveys regarding their experience using or providing care to patients using the PALS. Patients and providers had consistently positive experiences with the PALS, including questions about comfort and function. The data demonstrate a clear preference for the PALS compared to the traditional hospital gown and give additional supporting evidence that the comfort of hospital clothing is of paramount importance to patients.

Compassionate Coverage: A Patient Access Linen System

Background: Patient attire is paramount to patient’s dignity and overall experience. In this pilot study and in concert with a designer and clinician, we developed, patented, tested, and evaluated patient and provider preference and experience with a novel patient gowning system. Our objective was to survey obstetrics and gynecology hospital inpatients’ and providers’ experience with a novel hospital attire system; the patient access linen system (PALS). Methods: Patients were provided a PALS item at the beginning of a provider’s shift or at the start of an outpatient visit. Following their use of the PALS item, the patients and providers completed a separate multiple-choice and free-response question survey. Surveys were completed by patients each time a PALS item was returned to the provider for processing. Results: Patients and providers had a significantly positive experience with the PALS. The majority of patients had positive responses to each question about comfort and function of the PALS system, showed consistent preference for the PALS in comparison to a traditional hospital gown and demonstrated that comfort of hospital clothing is a priority for patients. The majority of providers found PALS easy to use when compared to the traditional gown with regard to clinical examinations. Conclusion: Patients in our pilot prioritized hospital attire as a key element in their overall hospital experience, and both patients and providers preferred the PALS system over the traditional hospital gown. Further study is needed on patient attire and evaluation of the potential clinical impact of the PALS.

New garment proposal for prevention of spreading Gram-negative bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotic class under hospital settings

Sensitive skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, skin inflammation and bedsores, leave patients vulnerable under hospital setting. It is important for the development of a hospital gown with “soft hand” properties and at the same time as a protector against nosocomial infections. Klebsiella pneumoniae has developed resistance to antibiotics in the carbapenem antibiotic class, known as carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP). CRKP is resistant to nearly all antibiotics and can kill up to 50% of infected patients. This work consisted in the development of a washable recycled silk fibroin-based gown covalently linked with an amino acid l-Cysteine(l-Cys), focused on prevention of K. pneumoniae establishment, proliferation and spreading to community, for use under hospital settings. With the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and few new therapies on the horizon, gowns adsorbed with L-Cys show to function as a barrier to the establishment and proliferation of microorganisms, providing user protection from infectious disease. This gown was knitted at a rectilinear needle loom with a Jersey knit structure. Then it was cross-linked with l-Cys, subjected to laundry, and subsequently characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle, free energy of adhesion, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Results presented a bactericidal effect against K. pneumoniae of 94.92% after three rinses and 88.88% after five washing cycles, with the few adhered bacteria with an altered and compromised morphology.

The Journey of a Hospital Gown: Performing Needlework

This essay explores issues surrounding psychiatric hospitalization through the intersection of creative writing and artmaking. The writing reflects on four artworks by the author created from appropriated hospital gowns that reflect on issues of representation and historical and contemporary experiences of hospitalization for mental disabilities including questions surrounding dignity, wellness, family, asylum tourism, psychiatric photography, and objectification.