Staff positions identified by different coloured uniforms.
2019-04-09
The decision to adopt a colour-coded uniform system was in response to a corporate goal of improving the patient/client experience as well as enhancing patient and staff safety. According to Heather Arthur, VP of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer, patients and families have previously provided feedback to the hospital about not being able to distinguish healthcare providers from support staff or physicians. "We looked at comments coming in on our patient satisfaction surveys, there was a common theme that patients did not know who was who," details Arthur.
Under the new system which came into effect on April 1st, hospital staff will be distinguished by discipline. Everyone will wear black pants and a standardized coloured top. For example, nurses will be wearing blue, pharmacy technicians will be wearing burgundy, physiotherapists will be wearing purple and environmental services will be wearing green. A legend of uniform colours will be included in patient handbooks, which are placed at each bedside.
"Standardized uniform colours identifying different disciplines has been proven to improve patient safety. It certainly will help patients distinguish who is entering their room,” explains Arthur.
All staff who interact with patients will conform to the new uniform standards, will wear nametags and introduce themselves to patients when they enter a room. Many staff are already expressing their satisfaction with the new uniforms and are feeling a greater sense of team morale and organizational pride. “Professionalism is important to all of us,” added Arthur.