Enclothed Cognition

I have a bad habit of using exclamation marks when I write. Not that I'm a punctuation cheerleader who seems 'about to explode with how awesome what I am saying is!!!!!', but more that I tend to use exclamation points to try and convey something beyond monotony. However, I'm still wrong - redefining the English language to my own whimsy. Wikipedia defines punctuation marks as "symbols that indicate the structure and organization of written language, as well as intonation and pauses to be observed when reading aloud." An exclamation mark is supposed to be used to convey an exclamation of strong emotion or volume, and not simply to sound lively or mildly excited.

I'm not alone (or I am, and it's normal to yell on Facebook), but our ancestors never had to rely so extensively on constant communication via the written word. A letter written a century ago would take weeks, if not months, to reach its recipient, and so each word was approached with care and consideration. But now we have the internet. Now we have text messages and emails, twitter updates and blogs . . . we are an age of the written word, even if it does sometimes get woefully mangled by our younger generations. I, for one, refuse to contribute to the mangling, and I'm making a conscious effort to break my habit of misusing exclamation marks.

Conveying the right intonation is not the only challenge that punctuation can present.  At Medelita, we often get questions about punctuation in regards to Name & Title Embroidery.  Typically we recommend having as few punctuation marks as possible, especially when it comes to periods.  Choosing RN or MD instead of R.N. or M.D. makes the embroidery ‘flow’ instead of breaking it up in our opinion.

However, it is a matter of personal preference. We like to say that embroidery is the closest thing to wearing your diploma - you earned it, so it is up to you how you would like it to look. We definitely see plenty of people use periods in their names as well in the title.  We also see the comma eliminated and no punctuation, however, this can make it ‘flow’ a bit too much and not really distinguish between the name and title in our opinion. At Medelita, we ultimately recommend no periods and the comma between the name and title: i.e. Susan Smith, MD - but again, this is ultimately up to you.

Medelita is always happy to discuss embroidery options with you over the phone as well. We are available Monday-Friday 8-5 PM PST at (877) 987-7979.

Many of us at Medelita are fans of Patagonia. Let My People Go Surfing, by Patagonia Founder, Yvon Chouinard, has served as an inspiration for some of our Medelita policies. The following excerpt is a prime example:

Let’s take a close look at a loose button and the consequences depending on who happens to discover it. Say the button falls off in your customer’s hand as she pulls the pants out of the washing machine. Your entire company, and your partners, have failed in the grossest possible way. That hard-earned customer will never again fully trust your claim to quality.

At Medelita, we not only strive to provide the best customer service possible, but we are committed to providing the finest possible quality garment. As a customer, your feedback helps fuel the new generation of Medelita garments. We don't create a garment and then stamp 'DONE' on it...we are always looking for new ways to improve the quality, look, feel, and durability of our lab coats and scrubs. Your Medelita garments are worn more than any other garment in your wardrobe, so we know that it needs to withstand more wear and tear than your average piece of clothing - and we want to make sure that it is the best quality it can possibly be, for as long as possible. Every now and then, though, a button will fall off despite how much effort we put into trying to prevent it. On those rare occasions, we will replace any and all buttons as needed. Not for six months or a year, but for the lifetime of your Medelita garment.

We offer several options for button replacement at no charge, so if you ever lose a button, contact us. Medelita will ensure that your garment is back to looking perfect, sophisticated, and professional as soon as possible.

It was the silence that eventually woke me. A sense, even in sleep, that something was missing . . . something wasn't quite right. There was a moment after my eyes opened, still heavy with the haze of sleep, where I simply stared at the alarm clock and wondered why it was displaying the wrong numbers. Why was that 9 there? And then the panic hit me . . . To me, one of the worst feelings is waking up late. Many of my morning rituals get abandoned in the pursuit of getting to work as soon as possible . . . my makeup routine becomes a 60-second rush.  I wear the first outfit I see.  And I definitely don't stop to get coffee on the way to work. I know how detrimental not looking or feeling up to par can be, and paired with a lingering fatigue, a self-conscious sense of being rushed stays with me for most of the day. It's a rare occurrence for me, but for many of our customers/colleagues, feeling rushed and disheveled is a normal part of their everyday career.  When you're working 10 to 12 or even 24 hour shifts, eating when you can find the time (if the cafeteria is even open), sleeping in a cramped room between beeper calls, and juggling 37 patients at any one moment - the idea of feeling your best seems like an unrealistic fantasy. Physical and emotional fatigue can leave you feeling frumpy and unkempt, yet your dedication to your career, your patients, and the people depending upon you to make decisions, takes absolute precedence over your own comfort. At Medelita, we know that every detail is important. It's our goal to help you by offering fitted, flattering, and functional lab coats and scrubs. Every detail of our garments is designed from the perspective of what will serve YOU. Our fabrics are carefully chosen to repel fluids, soil, stains and odors. Spilled coffee, spattered blood, and intensely hot overhead lights are all top of mind in creating the perfect Medelita fabrics and garments. Our pockets are deep because we know you have a lot to carry, and the pocket stitching is reinforced to prevent tearing.  Why?  Because our Founder, too, has plenty of memories of being reeled in by an unruly stretcher . . . . rrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiippp!!!  We know what is important to you and the garments you wear more than 2,000 hours/year. Medelita strives to produce the best lab coats and scrubs in the world so that you have one less thing to worry about. We know that you don't have a lot of time to fuss over your appearance.  With Medelita garments, you effortlessly look professional and feel comfortable, no matter what your day brings.

I think men got the short end of the gift stick. I find it incredibly easy to buy gifts for other women, whether friends or family, but when it comes to men, it's a lot harder.  Women can appreciate non-essential things...flowers, candles, soaps, anything even remotely pretty, no matter how useless it might actually be.  However, I've noticed that the consumer world isn't as full of useless items for men, probably because men are more practical about possessions (yes, I said it...don't shoot the blogger.) Every man I know already has any electronic gadget he wants, and short of golf-themed paper weights or socks, I'm out of good ideas. With Father's Day rapidly approaching, it's a bad time to be out of ideas, so I thought I would offer a suggestion for those of you with 'medical males' in your lives. If you know a man in the medical profession, chances are that he has a lab coat or a set of scrubs already...but does he like them? Are they his favorite fitted suit or does he give them the same consideration as his socks or pajamas? When the man in your life doesn't need anything, giving him an upgrade - a better, more durable and functional improved version of what he already has - is a surefire way to hit the gift jackpot. Our Medelita Men's lab coats and scrubs are leaps and bounds ahead of anything else on the market. Medelita scrubs are durable, comfortable, and functional, with moisture wicking and bacteriostatic properties - thanks to our  drirelease® with FreshGuard® fabric, and our male customers/colleagues love our products as much as our female customers.

"What I truly love, are the real, honest to goodness scrub pant pockets.  Finally I no longer need to juggle fifteen things in my hands.  And although I probably have an average build for a man my age, I actually don't look like a fire plug when wearing them.  These are well worth the extra money compared to cheap, semi-disposable fabric scrubs sold by others." - Lawrence Herman, MPA, RPA-C, DFAAPA, Huntington, NY

Medelita also offers four distinct lab coat designs for men: the full-length Osler lab coat, the mid-length Laennec lab coat, the Fauchard dental lab coat, and the Fleming consultation lab coat.

"I just received the Osler lab coat and I immediately put it on and went about my rotations. The heft and feel of this coat is exceptional and the quality and design is second to none. Within twenty minutes I had lost count of how many of my colleagues had inquired about where I got it, and had run off to their offices to look it up online. In patient interaction the coat was comfortable and proved on its first day to be completely durable and resistant to fluids and stains. I will definitely be purchasing more of these coats and will likely never wear another. Bravo Medelita, Bravo!" - Michael Vinson, BC-HIS, Santa Fe, NM

Medelita Men’s lab coats are breathable  100% cotton treated with DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector to resist fluid, soil, and stains - including blood - keeping the coat clean and white with minimal effort required.  Impeccably hand-sewn, like a tailored suit blazer, the fit, functionality, and design features make our lab coats second to none. After all, a man's lab coat is his suit. So if you're searching for a gift because the man in your life has 'everything' - does he have Medelita? Be sure to order soon for Father's Day, especially if you'd like name & title embroidery. At Medelita, we're dedicated to making sure that your gift is the best one he receives.

When talking in terms of companies or employees, we often label people as 'hard workers'. I've been thinking quite a lot lately about the role that effort plays within the context of work. It's undeniably the most important piece of the puzzle - afterall, without effort, everything else becomes irrelevant. But is effort alone enough to be successful? In my opinion, I think an understanding of expectation is just as crucial. As a company or as an individual, you can spend months tirelessly and painstakingly building a wall of impressive architectural prowess - but if the customer needs or wants a fence, then you have failed to provide a useful service. It could be said that adequate communication can bridge the gap between expectation and delivery, and I wholeheartedly agree. However, it's not always easy. As medical professionals, you are required to develop an intuition in regards to the needs of your patients - especially in situations like Emergency Medicine, where you often simply do not have the time to engage patients in substantial conversation. This intuition, whether you're working in medicine or building fences, usually only comes with time. Medelita is both fortunate and unique as a company in that it was founded by a clinician. Medelita is, in essence, led by a member of our customer base. The unacceptable state of medical apparel was not a market niche that appeared to be a good investment opportunity . . . in every way, it was a deeply personal absence of choice that affected Founder, Lara Manchik, PA-C, for nearly a decade. As a result, Medelita was created with an innate understanding of the needs of its customers. There are dozens of small design features in our lab coats and scrubs that reflect this understanding - and we are the only medical apparel company in the world that has addressed such details. As an example, our lab coats are interlined along the front edges with fusing (similar to a shirt collar) - this prevents them from easily flipping open as you walk. Every stress point on every garment we produce is also reinforced, and every lab coat is designed to provide a built-in range of motion. We've also raised the bottom button to make sure you're comfortable and still professional in your lab coat, even while sitting. These little details are the result of the experiences of our Founder. In the case of Medelita, our efforts as a company have been guided by an accurate understanding of expectation from the very beginning - and it shows, in our outstanding quality and overwhelming customer satisfaction.

Part of my job here at Medelita is to interact with our customers on Facebook, and it's a very enjoyable part of my day. Through these social media outlets, we can engage our customers directly and place their needs at the forefront of our growth. It's a privilege to be involved with such a community of medical colleagues, experiencing firsthand the positive impact that Medelita has had in their lives.  We're a company that embodies the values of health and wellbeing that you dedicate your lives to promoting, and we love being able to share our culture with the medical community. We know you don't have a lot of spare time in your lives, so we'd be honored if you joined our Facebook community to keep up with the latest Medelita news, share your everyday stories with your colleagues, or provide feedback, directly influencing the next generation of Medelita garments. As a welcome, Medelita is launching its very first Facebook contest. Between June 15th and June 30th, you can enter to win a FREE LAB COAT OF YOUR CHOICE simply by becoming a fan of Medelita. The winner can choose from any one of our Medelita lab coats and Medelita Men's lab coats. If you've been curious about our lab coats but haven't purchased one yet, here is a perfect opportunity to try your first Medelita lab coat. If you already have one of our lab coats, then take advantage of a chance to win an extra favorite lab coat or try one of our other popular styles for the first time. If not for you, perhaps there's a medical professional in your life who deserves the prestige that comes from looking sophisticated and professional? Only one person can win, but everyone who participates in the contest will receive a code for Free Name & Title Embroidery. It's our Thank You for supporting us and continuing to inspire us here at Medelita.

Enter to Win Now

 

We recently had a customer ask if she could clean her Medelita lab coat with natural soap, vinegar, or orange oil. As we, as a society, become increasingly more aware of our carbon footprints and chemical toxicity, a desire for eco-friendly options is rising - so I wanted to take a moment to address this question for all of our customers. For Medelita lab coats, we do not recommend using anything citrus-based as a cleaning agent. The acidity in orange or lemon oils acts like chlorinated bleach. Chlorinated bleach is extremely harsh and will slowly eat away at the cotton of your coat. While most lab coats are polyester, Medelita lab coats are 100% cotton treated with DuPont™ Advanced Dual Action Teflon® fabric protector,  which repels and releases stains. A gentle detergent in the agitation of washing is usually enough to leave your coat as white and clean as the day it was purchased. However, if you want to use bleach, a non-chlorinated version is acceptable. For Green cleaning solutions, we suggest using white vinegar or a natural lavender-based soap. Lavender has natural antibacterial properties, and will kill germs and bacteria without compromising the fabric. As seen on Dr. Oz, lavender oil also kills bacteria on the skin and nails. For example, if you get a fungus from the nail spa, putting lavender oil on your nails at night will clear it right up.

One of my best friends was at her sister's wedding a few months ago. The ceremony was beautiful, in a perfect and romantic setting on the banks of a lake in Texas. My friend, as the maid of honor, was charged with holding the ring until the right moment and had placed it loosely on her own finger.  Right before the exchange, my friend lifted her hand to brush back her hair - and the ring fell off. Her expression as her brother-in-law's ring sank into the depths of the lake was priceless, and captured for eternity in photographs that make her want to cry while the rest of us can't help but laugh.

While few occasions of losing a ring can quite match that level of horrifying, a wedding band for anyone who wears one is a priceless and cherished item. Extending far beyond the face value, a wedding ring is a symbol of the love that inspired its existence, and losing it is a tragedy in any circumstance.

Many Medical Professionals are faced with a unique challenge in regards to wedding rings. In any situation that requires a medical professional to work with their hands, whether as a surgeon, dental surgeon or any medical professional required to scrub into the OR, a ring can be not only a hindrance but a dangerous liability. Lacking a safe place to store a priceless ring during such moments, a lot of medical professionals put their rings in their scrub top or tie it to the drawstring of their scrub pants, and many rings get lost this way. Others choose not to wear their wedding rings to work - leading to more than a few disgruntled spouses.

Medelita has recently discovered a small company offering a solution to this disconcerting dilemma. Designed by Meredith Pike, PA-C, a Physician Assistant working in Interventional Radiology, the Ring Cling is a small device that attaches to any article of clothing and provides a safe and secure place for your wedding ring when you are unable to wear it.

The Ring Cling can be attached securely to your scrubs during surgery, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on your patients without a nagging concern for the important ring you either left on a counter or in a pocket or simply left at home. An added benefit is that the Ring Cling contains a small metal bead so that you will never misplace it or forget you're wearing it. Whenever you remove your scrubs with the Ring Cling attached, it will rattle to remind you that it's there.

At Medelita, we're happy to support any innovation that seeks to improve the lives of our customers and colleagues.

Imagine for a moment that you're facing an important court case, and your attorney arrives in a $30 suit. Would you feel it didn't matter, or would your confidence in that attorney be shattered, if only a little? While the dollar amount is just an example, the quality of a garment has a huge impact on the overall appearance of the individual wearing it - and in most professions, society demands that the appearance match the prestige. Within the medical world, however, there is an unimaginably low standard for appearance. Most patients view their health and well-being with the same, if not more, importance as you may view a pivotal court case. However, it's an acceptable norm for a practitioner to walk into a room wearing a $30 lab coat or set of scrubs. It's a stretch to pretend that appearance in such a situation doesn't matter, so how did the standard become so low? At Medelita, we are raising the bar and creating a paradigm shift that is rippling across the medical industry and finally treating our customers like the highly qualified and dedicated individuals that they are - in all ways, including appearance.  We often say that a lab coat is your suit, and we believe it. As a garment worn every single day as an outward symbol of achievement and aptitude, you deserve the very best. In comparison to other medical garments, we are indeed more expensive. What you get with Medelita is a higher quality, functionally innovative, and sophisticated garment that stands head and shoulders above the rest. After all, your lab coat is your suit.™

A great deal of thought goes into every important decision made at Medelita, including the design of new garments and the introduction of a new color. On one of my first days at Medelita, our Founder, Lara Manchik and I were discussing scrub colors. New to the nuances of the industry, I suggested some perky and creative color names, and I recall quite succinctly watching her nose wrinkle before she patiently (and kindly) explained that, at Medelita, even the color of a garment must be a representation of our high standards of professionalism and quality. I learned that day, and again every day since, that our customers and colleagues are our highest priority. We read every email that a customer sends, and we listen to every comment, suggestion, and request. We are always striving to reach a higher level of perfection and ensure that we're meeting the needs of the dedicated individuals we serve. I am, therefore, excited to announce that Medelita is introducing a new color to our line of clinician scrubs and men's scrubs. Just in time for summer, Medelita is calling to mind tropical beaches and warm sunny days with the introduction of Caribbean Blue scrubs in both men's and women's styles. Flattering on all skin tones, this modern and professional color is a statement of quality and achievement. In addition to looking good and feeling comfortable, Medelita medical scrubs are also designed to be both functional and durable. For women, our Caribbean Blue clinician scrubs feature a teal drawstring. To ensure consistency and present a polished look, name and title embroidery on our scrubs always matches the color of the drawstring. For men, the embroidery and the drawstring color are a masculine and professional cocoa color. Caribbean Blue scrubs will be available for pre-order on July 1st with shipping commencing on July 15th.  We anticipate you'll love this new choice as much as our existing scrub colors.