Enclothed Cognition

2000. It’s how many hours you wear your lab coat every year . . . and it’s how many Facebook fans we’d like to reach. Help us reach our goal, and we'll announce a very special discount to our Facebook fans. We've found that Medelita fans are truly advocates for our growing company. Often, when wearing Medelita garments among colleagues, we've heard that many of our customers get flooded with compliments and questions. "You look great! Where did you get that lab coat?" On Facebook, we can engage our customers directly and place their needs at the forefront of our growth. But Facebook is also a great way for our advocates, who do have a lot of pride in what they're wearing, to easily share Medelita with their friends, family, and colleagues. It's a casual forum where you can share your everyday stories with colleagues, provide feedback, read the latest Medelita news, receive discounts, participate in contests, or simply take a moment away from your stressful day to learn something new and fun. If you're not already a part of the Medelita Facebook family, please join us. If you are, help us spread the word - send us to your friends, family, and colleagues and help us to revolutionize the fashion of medicine.

My first day working at Medelita, I was greeted with a growl. After the first few weeks, the pitter patter of paws on the stairs would announce the arrival of Max just before he barreled into my office. He still growled, but the meaning had shifted from "Who are you and why are you in MY territory?" to "Ahem, excuse me, but you stopped petting me and that's unacceptable!" Our offices have since moved, and Dan, our eCommerce Manager, has joined Lara and I in the part of the Medelita office dubbed 'The West Wing'. Thankfully, Dan doesn't growl at me (although he growls at his computer a lot), and I have to say that I often miss that pitter patter of paws. Our canine mascot Max belongs to Sandra, our Production Manager, who admits that she didn't always love dogs. "I never wanted a dog in my entire life. I thought they were dirty, smelly, disgusting . . . just gross. I thought for sure I would definitely get another cat," said Sandra with a laugh. But it's clear to see that Sandra and Max are a match made in doggy heaven, and Max has a sad story with a very happy ending. Max was adopted from a puppy mill, and his tail was docked too short - leaving him with one little spinal nub. A first-time dog owner bought him, and because she was a workaholic, poor Max lived in a cage for 12 - 14 hours a day. Not long after, she decided that having a puppy was too much responsibility, and Max was abandoned at a dog groomers. Luckily, the groomer worked with Hearts for Hounds and decided to take care of Max until a home could be found for him. However, that meant that he was still confined to a cage for most of the day. A friend of Sandra's owned a shop next to the dog groomers, and they offered to watch the four-month-old puppy during the day so that he could run around and play. According to Sandra, "I came walking in to visit my friend, and our eyes met from across the table. I said I would take Max for a week until he could find a home. After a week, I couldn't give him back." We're certainly glad she couldn't, and everyone who meets Max has a tendency to fall instantly in love with him. Sandra has had Max for almost three years now, and he's living the doggy dream. When he's not visiting Medelita with mommy, he's playing with other dogs at Bark! Bark! doggy daycare. He even flies to Seattle for Christmas with the family. Like most dogs, he loves treats and table scraps, but he also has a unique fondness for carrots, tomatoes, pumpkin, string cheese, and salmon. A dog of discerning taste, he doesn't like pretzels, spinach, and popcorn without butter. As the Medelita mascot, Max even has a love of fashion. "He's got a lot of dog collars. He likes to mix it up, and he has a lot of sweaters hand-knit by mommy. His new one says 'Coffee, Tea, or Me' on the back," said Sandra. It's a simple choice in my opinion - as much as I love coffee, nothing is quite as refreshing as a dose of Max in the morning.

An old Welsh proverb states, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." While the health claims of the popular fruit have remained strong, the company Apple is doing anything but keeping healthcare professionals away. Gaining momentum throughout the medical industry, iPads are being used for far more than medical news - from diagnostic encyclopedias and electronic medical records to hospital applications and test results. Here is your chance to win an iPad 2!

We will be awarding a 16GB iPad 2 to three winners in the upcoming months. Although conference attendance is not necessary to win, the first two winners of the random drawing will be announced at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly conference in San Francisco, California from October 15th - 18th, 2011. The winner of the third iPad 2 will be announced by Medelita on December 1st, 2011 - allowing that lucky person the opportunity to begin the new year with an advanced tool for success and efficiency. Full contest rules are available at www.medelita.com/ipad2contest

How many items of clothing bear your name? Unless you're really vain or your mother is still labeling everything from your shoes to your underwear, my guess would be very few of your garments proudly state your identity. But - your lab coat should be one of them. At Medelita, we're passionate about perfection, from fabric and fit to finishing details. Our Founder is especially passionate about embroidery, however, and this very well might be the most opinionated interview I've ever done with her.  "I feel like embroidery is the icing on the cake. I talk about it a lot - we work so darn hard to make the garments absolutely perfect – the fabric, fit, durability, stitch detail, packaging, etc.  But truth be told – the very first thing a customer sees when they receive their order is the embroidery.  And I feel really strongly about certain embroidery colors looking better than others, and I’m not afraid to make that known,” says Lara Manchik, PA-C. In the world of medical apparel, choice is rare and we're a company founded on being an exception. When purchasing a Medelita lab coat, you have a plethora of choices to make - from the best style for you to the right size. Embroidery is the last choice, and yet just as important as the first. Many women simply pick the standard colors that they're used to seeing on a unisex lab coat - Black, True Navy, or Hunter Green. There's nothing wrong with those colors at all, but if you have a choice and you're open to suggestions, Lara has some often-overlooked favorites for women's lab coat embroidery. [caption id="attachment_889" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Blossom, Carolina Blue, and Willow"][/caption] Blossom - "Blossom is a subdued pink. I think it looks unbelievable." Carolina Blue - "Carolina Blue is a lighter toned blue that looks nothing short of amazing." Willow - "Willow is a medium muted green. It looks exceptional." These lighter colors are often overlooked as being different or out-of-the-box, but we've chosen all of our standard embroidery colors with the utmost care and consideration. In terms of visibility with embroidery, you have to consider how the thread color reacts on a white garment. All of the stitching on Medelita lab coats is as bright a white as the fabric itself, and when you apply darkly colored thread (such as black or navy) to a white garment, you're making a tremendous change and forcing a very strong visual focus. A lighter color of embroidery stands out equally as well, but is more pleasing to the eye and complimentary to the feminine details of the women’s lab coats. [caption id="attachment_766" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Plum, Cocoa, and Bronze"][/caption] While lighter colored embroidery offers a level of feminine sophistication consistent with the high quality styling of our women's lab coats, it's not always an available option. "Sometimes colleagues are required to wear darker colors, or they specialize in geriatrics and their patients need a starker contrast to see better. For darker colors on a women's coat, I prefer either Plum, Cocoa, or Bronze," says Lara. Since embroidery is the first thing you notice when you open your Medelita package, it better be stunning. Of course you notice the fit and significantly better quality, but your eye gets pulled first in the direction of the only color in a sea of flawless white. It's also the first thing your patients notice. Name & title embroidery can offer a level of comfort and explanation in a rather stressful environment. Who are you? What is your title? What are your qualifications to care for your patients? Name and title embroidery is a sophisticated and beautifully sewn statement of your personal achievement, level of education, and professional aptitude - which is why our Founder feels so strongly about choosing the right color. Next time you're ordering, consider choosing one of these 'Founder Favorites' for your perfect finishing touch. Call us Monday-Friday 8 AM - 5 PM PST at (877) 987-7979 if we could help to guide you any further concerning embroidery.

Like a favorite pair of jeans, it's almost impossible to wear a garment consistently and remain emotionally unattached to it. As women (myself included), we tend to place a great deal of emotional emphasis on our appearance . . . as the fashion and media industries would attest. You wear your lab coat an average of 2000 to 3000 hours a year. The closest thing to wearing your diploma, your lab coat signifies title, prestige and aptitude. It signifies the journey you've taken - your acceptance into the medical or dental program of your choice, and your survival through the years of hard work, long hours, and constant study to graduate and pass your board exams. And at the end, diploma in hand and a brand new title to your name, you are now able to don yourself in a full-length, frumpy, boxy, poor quality lab coat?? It seems a bit illogical, doesn't it? Medelita founder, Lara Manchik, PA-C, definitely thought so. "I couldn't understand why businesswomen and attorneys wear upwards of $2000 suits, and people in medicine are forced to wear something of lesser quality - no better than rigid jail uniforms," explains Lara. When Medelita was founded, the purpose was to introduce uniform choices for women that resembled the traditional unisex style lab coats and scrubs, but were designed to fit and flatter the female figure and still exude professionalism. We also wanted an emphasis on profession-specific functionality, so we chose fabrics that really worked for the wearer. By introducing modern fabric technology, we were able to match the function of the fabric to the needs of those clinicians who wear scrubs and lab coats daily. This solid philosophy behind Medelita – to offer truly high-quality, performance based medical apparel with perfect fit and comfort - continues to be the passionate driving force behind every new development and innovation to our products.  What we didn’t anticipate in those aforementioned priorities was the emotional significance of introducing non-unisex garments that were truly flattering and well received by female clinicians.  Three short years after launching Medelita, we have had the pleasure of watching thousands of female clinician faces completely change from apathetic (about a lab coat) to complete happiness.  Common scenario . . . at a medical or dental conference . . . Medelita rep says “what size do you wear?” . . . female clinician tries it on . . . complete transformation of facial expression to a huge smile. The Medelita rep is typically talking about all the great fit and performance and fluid resistant features of the lab coat, and the woman simply continues to look at the coat in disbelief.  The emotion in their faces, the curve of a smile and the softening of the brow, as an internal monologue begins. "I can’t believe how well this fits" . . .  "Wow, this is really great" . . . "Finally.” At an AVMA conference in Seattle a few years ago, the representative in the booth next to us approached us after the conference to say, "You know, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed being right next to you at this conference. It's been an absolute pleasure. Every single time a woman tries on a garment, they get a huge smile on their face. They feel happy when they try on your coats, and it's been really neat to see that emotional reaction." It's a very special experience to be a part of - to serve people who so greatly deserve to feel good about their professional appearance and be able to offer a garment that allows them that opportunity. "I know our customers have a difficult profession, and it sometimes forces us into a hard exterior. All of that is oftentimes broken down when they try on a lab coat. It's like magic. I miss medicine a great deal, but I have to say that this is rewarding in a different sort of way," says Lara Manchik, PA-C and Founder.

In the advent of Google Plus, I've been reconnecting with old friends - mostly friends from high school and college that I'd lost touch with over the years. The result is that I receive a daily dose of the most eclectic posts you could imagine, from the epic destruction of a video game boss to Star Wars ice cream to baby pictures, book reviews, celebrity gossip, and work stories from a plethora of industries. One of my friend's recent posts was entitled 'You have worked too long in the veterinary industry when . . . ' and it included such tidbits as:

• - You look at a cardboard box and recognize its coffin potential.
• - You go out to a club and the black light comes on, you check yourself for ringworm.
• - All of your pets are either 3 legged, lame, or blind in one eye.
• - You can detect maggots at 100 paces, just by the smell.
• - After seeing what goes in the washing machine at work, your own laundry doesn't seem so dirty.
• - You can play connect the dots with all of your patient-related scars and puncture wounds.
• - Your work clothes look like your pajamas.

I've spared you the graphic ones, but most of them left me with a scrunched nose and a deep appreciation for veterinary professionals who dedicate their lives to ensuring that our beloved pets stay happy, healthy, and strong. As if that wasn't enough, they do it with very little gratitude from their patients. When your patients regularly gift you with more pee than praise, you should at least be well protected. Her last point in particular speaks to the fact that the vast majority of medical professionals are expected to do miraculous things in pajamas - or rather, scrubs that aren't much better than pajamas. However, I'd like to think that we prove that not all scrubs are created equal. I recently received an email from Julie Pearson, a veterinary customer who stated, "Our job can get pretty dirty, when we clean abscesses, wounds, draw blood or get urine samples . . . we also spend a lot of time on our knees doing physical exams on dogs.  Your scrubs are perfect.  Blood stains wash off with cold water.  The colors and the quality of the fabric stay the same, wash after wash.  I have been wearing your scrubs for more than a year, and they get washed every week.  They still look brand new!" I think I'll send my friend a pair of Medelita scrubs for veterinarians in our new Caribbean Blue color. Definitely a far cry from pajamas. I don't think she'll mind taking that one off her "worked too long" list. Perhaps she'll even brag about it on Google Plus.

"The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease." These words were spoken by William Osler, M.D., a pathologist, physician, educator, bibliophile, historian, author, practical joker - and the subject of today's post. William Osler, M.D. was born in Ontario, Canada in 1849. He received his M.D. degree from McGill University in Montreal, and like many of his contemporary Canadian physicians, Osler went abroad for postgraduate study. Those studies took him to London, Berlin, and Vienna before he returned in 1874 to join the medical faculty at McGill University. In 1883, William Osler, M.D. was elected as one of only two Canadian fellows of the British Royal College of Physicians, and shortly after, he left Montreal to become a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Four years later, Dr. Osler became one of the "Big Four" founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the first Professor of Medicine and creator of the first residency program for specialty training of physicians. During his time at Johns Hopkins, William Osler, M.D. revolutionized the medical curriculum of the United States and Canada, combining English and German systems. He was known for saying, "He who studies medicine without books sails an uncharted sea, but he who studies medicine without patients does not go to sea at all." A strong advocator of patient-centric medicine, he was the first professor to bring medical students out of the lecture hall and into a clinical setting. He believed that students learned best by doing and that clinical instruction should begin and end with the patient. A man who dealt with death with a pinch of humor, Dr. Osler moonlighted under the pseudonym of 'Egerton Yorrick Davis', and even had a report published by the Philadelphia Medical News on the imaginary phenomenon of penis captivus, the details of which I won't explain but which illustrate the Puck-like alter ego of this esteemed medical professional. His book, The Principles and Practice of Medicine, published in 1892, compiled his methods and theories, and remained the standard text on clinical medicine for over forty years. In 1905 he accepted the Regius Professorship of Medicine at Oxford University, which was, at that time, one of the most prestigious medical appointments in the world. He remained at Oxford until his death in 1919. We chose to honor William Osler, M.D. with our own traditional and professional Medelita Men's Osler lab coat. Designed to resemble a men's suit jacket with a traditional collar and blazer pocket, the 44? length Osler lab coat is the height of distinguished professionalism - a perfect addition to a 'Captain' sailing the charted (and uncharted) seas of a medical world. The Medelita Men's Osler lab coat features five pockets, finished inside seams, and a tailored, blazer-like fit. The Osler lab coat also boasts breathable, 100% cotton pre-shrunk DuPont™ certified performance fabric that repels fluid, soil, and stains – including blood - while helping to maintain the bright white coat color that signifies prestige and professionalism. As a man who placed a great deal of importance on the role of doctor and patient interaction, we'd like to think that William Osler, MD would be honored by the tribute of a lab coat that presents a professional image to patients and peers alike. Learn more about the Osler lab coat.

We want you to look your best. That's our bottom line. We know Medelita customers/colleagues care about their professional appearance, and the resultant impact to patients and colleagues of a polished, clean first impression. Finding Medelita scrubs is highly welcomed by the millions of medical, dental and veterinary professionals that are used to wearing boxy, shapeless, non-functional unisex scrubs. Once that search and recovery mission for perfect fit and high-quality/high-performance scrubs has been achieved, the next step is maintaining appearance and longevity. Medelita scrubs are made from certified high-performance drirelease® with FreshGuard® fabric. What this means is that the fabric itself wicks moisture, dries quickly and is extremely comfortable. Drirelease® yarns pull moisture away from the skin and help to regulate skin temperature, minimizing sweat and discomfort.  FreshGuard® is bacteriostatic; it neutralizes and inhibits the growth of bacterial odors, and therefore keeps you fresh even through a stressful, long shift. The patented, environmentally friendly formula is applied at the yarn level, so the functionality is permanent and lasts the lifetime of the garment. Here are 5 helpful tips to ensure your Medelita scrubs stand the test of time. 1. Pre-Treat Stains The performance feature of our scrub fabric is different than that of our lab coats. Rather than repel fluid, the purpose of the drirelease® fabric with FreshGuard® is to wick moisture and prevent odors. Because of the 85% virgin polyester/cotton blend fabric, Medelita scrubs naturally clean very easily and resist stains. The inherent properties of the fabric allow for effortless stain removal, especially when pre-treated prior to washing. Four quick pre-treat options include: water, hydrogen peroxide, Tide to go, and Dryel on the go. These four options are Medelita scrub friendly. Keep an eye on this blog for future tips on how to remove specific stains. 2. Launder With A Mild Detergent Harsh detergents have the potential to slowly deteriorate the performance qualities of the fabric. A mild detergent used in conjunction with the permanent press cycle of the washer will leave your scrubs squeaky clean. For that extra boost of cleaning power we recommend adding a small amount of OxiClean® to your wash cycle. In addition, we recommend avoiding bleach, non-chlorine bleach and any products that contain orange or lemon oils. 3. Skip The Fabric Softener I know it's tempting - the softness, the scent, the adorable teddy bear on the box. But don't do it. Fabric softeners (both liquid and dryer sheets) coat the surface of the cloth fibers with a thin layer of film, designed to make your clothing feel smoother and prevent buildup of static electricity. However, using fabric softener on your Medelita scrubs plugs the functionality of the moisture-wicking fabric, basically creating a layer between you and the yarn, and stopping it from keeping you dry and comfortable.  If you do accidentally use a dryer sheet one time, simply don’t use it the next time after re-washing your scrubs, and they will function at peak performance. 4. Timely Tumbling We recommend that you dry your Medelita scrubs on a warm setting. Because our scrub fabric dries so quickly, you’ll find that they are perfectly dry and wrinkle-free after only 10 minutes in the dryer. So knowing that you can’t dry your scrubs with a fabric softener sheet, simply start the load on low or medium, and then go back after 10 minutes, remove your Medelita scrubs, and add the dryer sheet for the rest of the cycle. 5. Resist the Urge to Iron I absolutely hate ironing. But for some people, ironing is a laundry ritual not easily broken. Medelita scrubs do not wrinkle easily, so ironing is truly unnecessary. However, if you absolutely insist, we recommend ironing on medium heat with steam. These quick and simple adjustments will guarantee that your Medelita scrubs keep you dry, comfortable, and fresh for as long as you own them.

"What is the difference between Sanita® and Dansko®?" This is a question we're often asked. For many years, Sanita® was relatively unknown, and Dansko® was the clog of choice for medical professionals.

I've spoken extensively about the standard of perfection that we strive for here at Medelita. While some companies may consider perfection to be defined as 'too small a defect for anyone to notice', we notice everything. As a manufacturer, our garments go through a stringent 4.0 AQL inspection process, but if a certified garment doesn't meet the Medelita standard of perfection, we've historically refused to sell it. By the same token, we're always constantly working to improve our existing product line, whether it's changing a fabric just slightly or moving a pocket. This has left us with the question of, "What should we do with the garments that are not quite perfect?" I'm excited to tell you that we've recently decided to offer these garments at a discount. Medelita has launched a new addition to our store: Web Specials. When you visit our site, you now have the ability to purchase Medelita ‘Discontinued’ garments or ‘Certified Seconds’ at discounted prices. Discontinued items include certain scrub colors (such as café and iris), and styling features that are no longer part of our current offering (such as our first version of the Lucy HT Dental Coat). These items are of first-quality and exist in limited quantities, as they have been phased out of production. Certified Seconds are garments with slight fabric or sewing imperfections. The exact imperfection of every garment varies.  Specific examples include small/thin ‘fly yarns’ on the white lab coat fabric (from the cotton plant), subtle marks on the fabric (scrub or lab coat), slight sewing imperfections, off-shade colors (not perfectly white), or discontinued fabrics (original fabric was heavier than current). These are garments that didn't meet our own extremely high standards of perfection, but are still garments that could be worn proudly. If an imperfection is so great that anyone on the Medelita team wouldn’t want to wear it, then it is not in either of the above categories, and slotted for donation. It’s important to understand that all Web Special sales are FINAL and cannot be returned or exchanged. We also do not allow embroidery options for web specials items.  If you require name & title embroidery or custom logo or professional organization logo embroidery, please purchase a first-quality garment. For more information, visit our Web Specials or call us at 877.987.7979. Our friendly, professional team is here to answer any questions.