Why are Medical Linen and Uniforms Those Color?
Pink scrubs in the nursery. Green gowns huddled around the operating table. Piles of pristine white bedsheets in trolleys. Why are medical linens and uniforms that color? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering that, you’ve come to the right place.
There are many reasons why medical linens and uniforms are a certain color. The most important thing to understand about it is that it’s mostly arbitrary. More often than not, the colors are a matter of preference. Other times, it’s practicality. Sometimes, it simply boils down to functionality. Let’s break down the most common reasons why certain gowns and uniforms are a specific color:
Aesthetics
Not surprisingly, aesthetics plays a major role in the selection process. It is not uncommon for healthcare facilities to choose scrub colors that suit the color of their logo. With customized scrubs, for instance, the facility’s logo is embroidered onto the garment. The scrubs then will have to be a different color to make sure the logos remain visible.
Easy Identification
Color-coding is also a common practice in many healthcare facilities. This usually makes it easy to identify between personnel designation as well as different departments.
Practicality
When it comes to the color of hospital sheets and blankets, the reasoning is purely pragmatic. Unlike scrubs, linen colors are usually limited to white and green. White linens are the color of choice for generic hospital rooms for a number of reasons. Among them is the fact that white is the easiest linen color to clean. With healthcare laundering requiring heavy and repeated bleaching, white is the most resistant to fading. This makes it a longer-lasting choice.
White also makes it easy to spot bleeding in recovering patients. In recent years, however, some healthcare industries have turned away from basic whites. In India, for instance, a new mandate on color-coded hospital linens has recently taken effect. The rule orders government hospitals to use different color linens for each day of the week to ensure regular linen replacements and enhance infection control protocols.
Surgical Gowns and Sheets
Surgical gowns and sheets are the perfect examples of how colors play an important functional role in hospital operations. Historically, linens and garments in the operating room were white because they were easy to clean. With the rise of electricity, white posed a visibility problem to surgeons. They create a blinding glare that makes it difficult for surgeons to operate.
That’s where green (or blue) became the better alternative. Among other reasons, green, for one, provides the perfect contrast with red. This refreshes the surgeons’ vision from the barrage of red on the operation site, thus keeping their vision sharp.
Maintaining the Color Quality of Healthcare Linens and Uniforms with Medico
Whether the colors are there for arbitrary or functional reasons, keeping the colors vibrant is imperative. The right laundry process is key to that. Not only does a proper washing procedure prevent fading, but it can also ensure the longevity of the linens and garments.
Interested in a professional medical laundry service? Contact Medico Healthcare Linen Service today to get started or to learn more about how we can boost your inventory management! Call (800) 464-6334 or fill out this form.
