Enclothed Cognition

Our Founder often recalls one of the very first medical conferences (AAD) she attended as an exhibitor. Anxious about even the female MDs liking and accepting the new Medelita lab coats, she was caught off guard when a somewhat pushy male dermatologist forged his way through the slew of female MDs happily trying on lab coats, sharply placed his fist on the table and said, “Where’s mine???” Well we hadn’t considered men’s lab coats at first. We wrongly assumed that the multitude of unisex styles on the market were well received by male physicians. Not the case – and clearly brought to our attention by more than the dermatologist mentioned above. We offer currently four different men’s styles, all of them equally popular but intended/purchased for different reasons. Follow the suggested tips below to help you find your preferred style. Your Height Men that are of taller stature, typically 6’1” and above look best in the Osler lab coat. Height is not the only requirement for this particular lab coat. It is also preferred by men who simply want a longer coat as a symbol of prestige and stature. This 44” lab coat falls to the knee and is tailored, sophisticated, and highly functional, including fluid & stain resistant fabric. The Laennec lab coat is our best selling lab coat, likely because it is the most traditional in appearance, and the average man is between 5’8” and 6’ tall. The Laennec lab coat is a 40” lab coat that looks extremely professional, with blazer like styling features and a perfect fit. Your Specialty Physicians and most clinicians prefer the traditional look of the Osler and Laennec lab coat styles. Dentists and dental surgeons prefer the dental specific Fauchard lab coat, although some OBGYNs also purchase this style as they, too, are often gloved and working from a stool. It is highly functional and extremely ergonomic in both a seated and standing position. Students and some dental professionals prefer the 30” Fleming lab coat, as a hip length consultation lab cat, either as a required length or a preferred length. Cuffs or No Cuffs? The Fauchard dental lab coat is the only men’s lab coat with cuffed sleeves, specifically designed to not come out of your gloves while doing procedures. The entire sleeve is ergonomic in both range of motion and exact positioning at the elbow, for a true position of function that results in no tension in any position. Buttons or Snaps? The Osler, Laennec and Fleming all have highly durable buttons that are triple secured, and these styles look highly professional both open and closed. The Fauchard has a snap closure to the neck, and looks best in a closed position. Single Back Pleat or Double Back Pleat? Most men don’t realize how important the back lower pleats are to both comfort and aesthetic. Similar to a stylish men’s blazer, the back of our lab coats have either a single back pleat (the Fleming, the Osler, and the Laennec) or a double back pleat/vent (the Fauchard). Both have an ideal length and positioning in order to maximize comfort and add to the overall sophisticated look of each lab coat. What Size? If you want the perfect fit for your lab coat, simply order the same size as you would for a sport coat or blazer. It's that simple, and you'll be surprised by how tailored and professional a Medelita Men’s lab coat can look and feel. For help in choosing a lab coat style, determining proper size, or if you would like to inquire about custom logo or name & title embroidery, please call 877-987-7979 or email contact.us@medelita.com for highly personalized, professional service.

Day 1: I feel great. Excited for labor and delivery, have my lunch packed and my latte in hand. Hair is brushed, lipstick-ed mouth is smiling. Bring on the month. Day 4: Kinda tired. Thirty-two people are now in the world that were not only a few days ago, and since it was my hands that guided them out, I am now responsible for seeing their mothers every day starting at 4:30 am. Day 5: Hair brushing now seems like superfluous vanity. Give up in favor of extra thirty seconds of sleep. Day 5, later: Am primary surgeon on a cesarean section for the first time. Realize that nurses do a "count" of all surgical instruments/sponges before I close the patient, to make sure nothing is left inside. Nurse reports to me "Counts are correct, Doctor." I smile. Thank you. Day 6: How did my fridge get empty? I seriously don't remember eating all that. Days 7 & 8: Don't have time to go to the grocery store. Day 9: I am now grocery shopping in the hospital cafeteria. What do we need? Milk? Cereal? Fruit? Dinner? A recent trip to the cafeteria yielded 6 milk pints, 5 pieces of loose fruit, a box full of salad, three tins of cheerios, and a takeout box filled with cooked chicken breasts and potatoes. The cafeteria worker laughed at me, then realized I was serious and rang it all up. Swipe...and done. Day 10: Baby count continues to climb, as does the length of my postpartum rounding list. Day 11: Find time to go to Fresh and Easy. Please bear in mind that F&E is about 500 feet from my house. Someone with a good arm could throw a ball into their window from my front yard. Nevertheless, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and provision for my home as I drive over. Get there and realize that the coupon I have been carrying around in my scrub pocket for five days has expired yesterday. Frick. My smugness evaporates, and deflated, I buy the groceries anyways. Day 11, later that evening: Realize I have forgotten to buy dog food. Rather than make the journey across the street again, opt to serve the dog a chicken breast mashed with potatoes, left over from aforementioned cafeteria shopping. He loves it. Day 13: Thinking of the raw pork loin waiting for me in the fridge (it seemed like a good idea sitting there all pretty and healthy in the grocery store case), I opt to bring home dinner from the cafeteria. Chicken enchiladas- a favorite of my husband's- were being served, and I bought a plate and took it home. I slid it onto my own china, reheated it, and served it. About halfway through, he squints at me, and asked if asked if I had made these? I just laughed and asked...what do you think? He laughed too. Day 15: I didn't have time to do my laundry, and ran out of underwear. Opted to buy a new pack from Target instead of devote time to mountain of dirty clothes. Must remember to maintain efficiency and get all other shopping done as well while I am there. Cat sand? Check. New mop? Check. Dog food! Yes! What else? I just cant remember. Morning of Day 16: What is that smell? I turn my head. It's stronger now. I surreptitiously sniff my armpit. Oh God. That's what I forgot at Target. Deodorant. Day 18: Deodorant still not purchased. Just when I'm about to give up and start changing my scrub tops thrice daily, I pick up a prescription for the hospital pharmacy and notice they carry deodorant. Hallelujah. Days 20 and 21: Working both weekend days. Miss husband. He comes to hospital for lunch. I feel bad that he's driven 45 minutes each way to see me, but he insists that the Banner Bistro makes the best chicken sandwich in town, and he was hungry for a good chicken sandwich, so it's really not my fault. He also brings me and my fellow intern our favorite frozen yogurt treats, which I know is an additional 20 minutes out of his way. Day 23: So, so tired. Realize that between the drive home and needing to come back at 4, I will spend only eight hours at home. Decide to sleep at the hospital, which allows me to sleep in until 5:30, and roll out of bed and into my patients room. Don't care that my hair isn't brushed, but realize the deodorant I've worked so hard to procure is at home. Dammit. Day 23, later that morning: Purchase another deodorant from pharmacy. Pharmacist grins at me. "Didn't you just buy one of these?" I glare at him, and add a toothpaste to my purchase. He laughs at me. Day 24: Baby count: 97. How is it possible that there is anyone still pregnant left in Phoenix? I must have delivered everyone by now. Day 25: My first needlestick, while suturing a difficult vaginal laceration. Must figure out how to get to occupational health. Day 26: Buy second pack of underwear and larger laundry basket. Day 28: Mother, upon hearing laundry plight, mails me five pairs of Victoria's Secret panties. I'm sure the postage cost more than what I spent on Fruit of the Loom pack from Target. Gratitude for supportive family eases my tiredness and makes me smile. Day 30: Had a slow day today. Only delivered one baby. Is it true? Did I really deliver everyone? I was kinda joking before. Hmmm... Day 31: Never mind. Pregnancies, if not in Phoenix, have now appeared from surrounding areas, including, but not limited to: Camp Verde, Strawberry, Show Low, the Grand Canyon, Colorado City, Buckeye, Salt Lake City, and California. None of these places are within two hours drive of the hospital. Appreciate, really for the first time, that this is a true tertiary care center. Humbled by the fact that I am part of a program/medical center that people travel hundreds of miles to get to, because of what we can provide in terms of high-level care. I don't work with these patients right now- they go to the more experienced residents- but wonder how it happened, and will happen, that in a few months I will be helping to provide care that people drive hours to receive. Final Count: Babies: 106. Husbands: 1. Supportive family members: more than I deserve. Lost hours of sleep: countless. Pairs of scrubs: 44. Hospital Meals: 61. New pairs of underwear: 17. Exhausted and humbled residents: 1. Counts are correct, Doctor. Medelita Guest Blogger: Dr. Anne Kennard. Anne is an OB/GYN resident in Phoenix. She has kept a collection of writings about medicine/becoming a doctor since her second year of medical school, and we're honored to welcome her as a guest blogger for Medelita.

In our technological age, it's not surprising that electronic stethoscopes are available that amplify sounds. There are even stethoscopes with Bluetooth capability that will transmit heart sounds to computer software programs designed to analyze the cause of any murmurs. While Dr. Rene Laennec invented one of the most widely used physician tools, I believe he would find the modern stethoscopes virtually unrecognizable from the instrument he originally dubbed "Le Cylindre." Laennec was a skilled woodworker, and he carved the first official stethoscope out of wood in 1816. The 12-inch long wooden cylinder had a hole on one end to place against the ear, and a funnel-shaped cone on the other for placing against the patient's chest. When Laennec published a paper on what was called 'mediate auscultation', he discussed the design of his invention and described the experiments he conducted during the evolution from rolled up papers to a hollow wooden cylinder. His stethoscope could be purchased with every copy of his treatise for 2 francs. Both sad and ironic, Laennec's nephew used the stethoscope a decade later to diagnose his uncle with the Tuberculosis that would claim his life in 1826. Laennec was the first to describe the auscultatory signs we still use in medicine today, such as 'bruit,' 'rales,' 'bronchophony,' and 'egophony.' Following his death, the stethoscope continued to evolve in various forms until it became the recognizable instrument medical professionals use today. Some of the inventions are downright horrifying to me, such as a long thin wooden attachment designed to listen to a fetus in-utero via vaginal insertion. I can only imagine that was just unpleasant for both doctor and patient . . . not to mention that the thought of splinters in all the wrong places makes me shudder. Adjustments to stethoscope design continued over the decades, but it wasn't until the early 1850s that physicians decided to try listening with both ears. Monaural stethoscopes are still used today in countries such as those of the Former Soviet Union, and by midwives in the United Kingdom and Europe. In the United States, though, the binaural stethoscope has taken precedence. Dr. George Cammann is credited with producing the first usable stethoscope intended for listening with both ears. Dr. Cammann was working as a physician at the Northern Dispensary in New York City and designed his stethoscope with ivory earpieces connected to metal tubes covered by wound silk. The tubes converged into a hollow ball designed to amplify the sound, which was attached to a cone-shaped chest piece. However, our most modern and recognizable design stems from Dr. David Littmann, a distinquished cardiologist. In 1961, Dr. Littmann described his "ideal" stethoscope in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and its simple design is still the basis for most stethoscopes used in the medical industry today. Next time you reach for the instrument you use so often, take a moment to remember the century of innovation that has created it.

November 13th - 19th is National Nurse Practitioner Week. According to AANP, Nurse Practitioners are licensed, expert clinicians with advanced training who provide primary, acute and specialty healthcare services. They work as a partner with their patients, helping them make educated healthcare decisions and healthy lifestyle choices. In 1965, Loretta Ford, RN, and Henry Silver, MD, started the first Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Colorado. The training program concentrated on the prevention of diseases, and the promotion of health, particularly of families and children. Today, there are currently approximately 148,000 NPs practicing in America, providing cost-effective, patient-centric services to their patients. If you know a Nurse Practitioner, honor their contributions this week with a Medelita lab coat. Medelita lab coats are made from breathable, 100% cotton pre-shrunk DuPont™ certified performance fabric that repels fluid, soil, and stains, helping to maintain the bright white coat color that signifies prestige and professionalism.

In honor of National Nurse Practitioner Week, I wanted to take a moment to honor one of our customers, an exceptional Nurse Practitioner named Mimi Secor. Like many of the female pioneers I write about, Mimi has dedicated her career to helping others - in particular underserved women and their families. She has made it her personal mission to empower women to improve not only their health, but their confidence, their self-esteem, and their lives. It's a mission that has taken her across the country from a prison in Massachusetts where she volunteered her time to treat female inmates, to the rural Alaska community of Bethel where she provided primary care for a diverse population that included Yupik Eskimos. Mimi was also one of the first NPs to launch her own private practice in Cambridge, MA, serving patients from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. For Mimi,being a clinician and an educator go hand in hand, yet she believes that her patients teach her just as much in return. As an example, she points to the seven years she spent practicing 400 miles off the road system in rural Alaska. "You know what the Yupik call non-natives? ’People of Thunder.’ They say we talk too much, too loudly, and they’re right. They also say, ‘You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk.’ That has been an instrumental lesson in my practice. It’s something I’m still working on, with every patient, every day.” Committed not only to being an educator, but also to making positive changes in her community, Mimi organized her colleagues in a political campaign for legislation that would allow nurse practitioners to write prescriptions and receive reimbursements from insurance companies. Her efforts helped progress the profession of NPs everywhere and break down barriers preventing equal access to quality healthcare. Despite her hard work and dedicated efforts for women and fellow NPs, Mimi offers these words of wisdom - and a lesson I believe is important for us all. “Save some energy for yourself and your loved ones. Have fun! If life isn’t fun, what’s the point?" — Mimi Secor, MS, M.ED, APRN, BC, FNP, FAANP

The holiday season is a time of celebration and appreciation. As we celebrate another wonderful year here at Medelita, our thoughts turn to the appreciation we have for our valued and loyal customers. As a thank you, we've given you even more reasons to shop at Medelita.com this holiday season.

1. Substantial Specials
From now until November 29th, you'll receive free shipping on all orders over $100. In addition, our 6-day Annual Holiday Sale begins on Thanksgiving Day and gives you an opportunity to save 20% on all Medelita lab coats and scrubs. December offers free gift-wrapping, as well as free name and title embroidery.

2. Online Gift Certificates
Lab coat or scrubs? What size? What color? There are a lot of choices to make when you're buying a garment, and if you'd rather let the recipient decide which lab coat or set of scrubs is best for them, we offer the easy option of beautifully presented gift certificates.

3. Free & Easy Returns or Exchanges
We want you to be happy. If for any reason, you're not satisfied with your non-embroidered purchase, simply mail your gift back to us and we'll handle the rest.

4. Guaranteed to Get There
Order before December 20th for non-embroidered items and December 16th for embroidered items, and we guarantee that your gift will arrive in time for the holidays.

5. Shop from Home
There's nothing more convenient than shopping from the comfort of your own home. Order Medelita online, and we'll bring your favorite professional garments directly to your doorstep.
This season, consider giving the gift of Medelita - a gift of style, sophistication, and comfort that will be loved by family, friends, and colleagues alike.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, here is an intriguing snippet of medical history from the roots of our Thanksgiving traditions. On November 11, 1620, after 65 days at sea, a storm-battered ship named the Mayflower ended its long journey at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Among those first pilgrims who founded a colony at Plymouth was a doctor by the name of Samuel Fuller, who served as the primary physician and surgeon during the founding of the colonies. Samuel had brought an apprentice named William Butten with him, but he unfortunately died two days before reaching the New World. William Butten was hardly the only casualty of the Pilgrim's journey. Already weakened by their two-month voyage, most of the passengers failed to survive the first few months of winter in their new home. Fortunately, the native Wampanoag people and their leader, Massasoit, shared their knowledge of local crops and navigation with the settlers, helping them to survive. The first thanksgiving was, in fact, a weeklong feast held a year later to celebrate the pilgrims first successful harvest. Far from turkey and cranberry sauce, the meals were more likely to include duck, venison, seafood, cabbage, and corn. While the Native Americans shared their knowledge of the land, the pilgrims shared their knowledge of medicine. In 1623, the Wampanoag chief, Massasoit fell ill and was nursed back to health by Plymouth Colony governor, Edward Winslow. After his recovery, Massasoit felt duty-bound to observe "whilst I live I will never forget this kindness they have showed me." Despite the tragedy of future relations with the Native American tribes, these humble beginnings can be appreciated for the simple harmony our ancestors found - and the integral role that medical knowledge and basic human caring played in maintaining peace during those first difficult years.

Thanksgiving is a time for appreciating everything wonderful in our lives, and here at Medelita, we're definitely thankful for our customers. It's because of you that we are able to thrive, and our gratitude for your support is immeasurable. Without your support and feedback, we couldn't be the company that we are today, and our Annual Holiday Sale is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues who wear Medelita proudly and confidently all year. Our 6-day Annual Holiday Sale begins on Thanksgiving Day, and from November 24th - 29th, you will receive 20% off Medelita lab coats and scrubs. The savings are automatic at checkout - no code is required, and you'll also receive free shipping on any order of $100 or more. Our garments only go on sale once a year, so now is the best time to treat yourself, your colleagues, or loved ones to an impressive, personalized gift. The 20% discount does not apply to past or future purchases, logo embroidery, name & title embroidery, gift certificates, shipping fees, amodex® or select Sanita® clogs. The Annual Sale discount cannot be combined with other professional organization discounts or school discounts. Group orders, custom logo embroidery orders, and bulk purchases are welcomed. Call 877.987.7979 or email contact.us@medelita.com if we can assist in any way.

Perhaps some of you braved the chaos of Black Friday last week, but if you're anything like me, you probably prefer to shop from the comfort (and safety) of your own home. To help you save on your holiday gifts without the risk of being trampled by crazed shoppers, we're offering an extra special Cyber Monday Special for the first time ever. Today and tomorrow only (November 28th - November 29th), you will receive free shipping with any order, regardless of the amount. Combined with our 20% holiday sale discount, this Cyber Monday Special offers an unrivaled opportunity to save on a thoughtful gift for yourself, colleagues or business partners, or loved ones. Both our Annual Holiday Sale and our Cyber Monday Special end tomorrow (November 28th - November 29th), so don't miss out on these exclusive discounts. We do run low on inventory toward the end of the year, so please order early for best size and style selection.

While researching stethoscopes, I ran across a blurb concerning medicine canes and found it so fascinating that I decided to write a blog about them. You'll likely find it as interesting as I did. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the cane was a symbol of medicine as recognizable as the lab coat is today. During an age when canes were a fashionable statement of social standing, importance, and prestige, it stands to reason that physicians would be among those who carried them. However, these canes were as functional as they were fashionable. Historically, doctors are often shown carrying medical bags, but those bags tended to call attention to the physician and the fact that he was likely to be carrying drugs - especially the opiates that were commonly used as medication. To lessen the likelihood of being accosted, doctors began to use hollow canes that served as a secret medicine bag - allowing physicians to store medicine and tools without revealing their identity to street urchins and thieves. The cane protected physicians in another way as well. On most medical canes, the head was perforated and contained certain vinaigrettes and aromatic powders that could be inhaled as a method of preventing contagion while treating patients. One of the most common preparations was called the "vinegar of the four thieves" - based on a tale of four thieves who robbed a plague-stricken city in France and sniffed this concoction to avoid contracting the plague. On rounds, as they entered patient rooms, some physicians would even bang their canes on the ground to aerosolize the compounds - something I imagine was a tad unnerving for their patients. Yet more unnerving is the lack of cleanliness these canes represented. While innovative in theory, the 18th and 19th centuries were not known for their strong grasp of hygiene or sterilization, and doctors would often make several house calls without changing or cleaning the instruments he had so cleverly hidden in his cane. These canes also frequently contained small flasks of liquor, allowing the physician to take a few swings on his rounds to protect himself from cholera or other deadly epidemics. If patients had thoroughly grasped just how germ-ridden that cane was likely to be, I think they would have been the ones needing the liquor. Romantic notions of top hats and house calls aside, I think it's probably for the best that medical canes went out of style. However, I can certainly appreciate this intriguing snippet of medical history - how about you?