Just when I thought that I was done re-designing hospital gowns, I was faced with the same challenges of back not being covered properly on the guys. Remember, I am also a provider working in the Physical therapy department. Whether at a hospital or a nursing rehab, we were dealing with gowns malfunctioning all the time. The story of the male version gown started while I was a patient myself. Let’s hear it!
It was about 13 years ago; I had a hernia repair surgery at the hospital. During my famous walking in the hallway, I would come across some male patients going to walk or coming from a walk too. One particular day, I was walking a few feet behind a man. My goodness... what a view! The poor man may not have been aware of his situation because he was pushing his walker and saying hello to the nurses in a flirty manner. They were cheering him for his third round of walk for the day.
Just imagine this... The third time going round trip with his backside exposed like that? Nobody paid attention. He had no underwear of course and everything he owned was flashing back there. I was like “Oh no... I got to do something quick”. But remember, I was a patient too and I was walking slow due to pain. He was going faster than I. So, I just hollowed at a nurse to give him another gown to cover his backside. By the time she did, he was way down and about to make a U-turn. He was mortified. Wouldn’t you too?
From that day forward, after observing multiple other incidents like that, I started envisioning how to make a design solely for men that would give full coverage. I looked at the female version and decided to make the male version a wrap gown as well with ties on the side. The gown would have a V-neck from both front and back which is the only difference from the female version. The sleeves are opened with velcro enclosure for easy IV access. I thought of the velcros to create independence.
Talking about independence, with the traditional hospital gowns, the sleeves are opened also but with snap on buttons. It is hard for patients to tie them, and they rely on someone to do it for them. In rehab, we like to see our patients do functional things on their own to increase gross motor functions of the fingers. With the velcros in place, the patients would appreciate the easiness of closing and opening their sleeves.
This gown is also very easy to don/doff which makes it easy for the physicians and nurses to do their jobs efficiently and rapidly if needed. During hygiene or ADL’s, that gown will open widely and be removed completely in order to care for the patients. This gown is also good for patients who has a colostomy bag because of the quick access it gives with the wrap. Nursing staff will have to just lift the side when they want to empty the bag without having to remove the gown completely as they would have with a traditional gown. Furthermore, my male patients would proudly walk the hallway without the fear of “flashing” any body parts. I am sure they will all appreciate this feature as well as the staff on the floor. Wouldn’t you agree?