Identity: What’s in a Name?
There is a real power in using first names – hearing our name is proven to activate patterns in the brain which make us more alert and responsive. Wearers are instantly recognisable as a staff member, their role is clear and defined, with a first name to be addressed by.
Discussions about the importance of environment for the patient's health and well-being and the provision and support of healthcare extends at least as far back as 400 BC with Hippocrates and the 19th Century Florence Nightingale. For a patient, seeing a total stranger can be quite a daunting prospect, especially when the clinician is wearing a mask/hat resulting in only a pair of eyes being seen.
Not knowing who is behind the mask/hat can be intimidating and scary. Removing this barrier can turn the anonymity to 'familiar' which in itself creates a warmer, more friendly and approachable nature.
The more a patient is informed and understands what is happening and who is looking after them, the less anxious they feel resulting in an improvement in well-being and therefore, a more efficient recovery.
A G r e e n e r N H S
A hospital with 20 theatres would have an average of 430 staff using disposable theatre caps. This usage and waste would equate to approximately 100,000 single use hats going to landfill each year.
Fewer mistakes have been made
Patient Safety
C o s t S a v i n g s
Trusts are making excellent savings by implementing reusable caps in place of disposable caps.
I d e n t i t y
Reducing patient’s anxiety (especially during the Covid19 pandemic when all are wearing PPE and masks). To see a name is very reassuring to the patient.
"An average hospital would dispose around
100,000 hats every year "
Staff & Patients feel reassured
Reassurance
Confidence
Staff are clearly able to identify their co-workers