Everything in the physical environment of your pharmacy can affect how patients feel about your business. You know boxes piled up in the middle of your aisles looks bad. And what pharmacists wear plays a big part in those perceptions. In the highly competitive retail pharmacy market today, consumers are bombarded with choices.
When your pharmacy displays a professional image, you can help consumers narrow down those choices. Establish a standard dress code for your pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and other staff. And, remember to keep the feel of your business in mind. You know who works there and you get a certain feeling about their culture. Set your business apart from the independent pharmacy next door or the big box store down the block by establishing a dress code.
The primary reason is for identification. Scrubs or a vest may indicate where you stand professionally. Wearing a lab coat may designate that you will be working with the public and talking to them about their medications. If your job is to fill the prescriptions with little to no customer contact, you may be allowed to wear your own clothing or a pair of scrubs. If you work in sight of the public and fill prescriptions, you may be asked to wear a white vest or smock that identifies you as a pharmacy worker.
Managing the front counter and working directly with the public may require that you wear a white lab coat. Many companies require that all pharmacy personnel wear some type of outer garment. This can be a vest, smock, or lab coat. In addition to being an identifier, it also protects the employee if a drug or medication spills or splashes onto their clothing.
This is the reason psychiatrists in particular have given up the white coat, for example. Community pharmacists need to communicate a feeling of warmth and congeniality, and yet they also need to have an aura of professionalism. So, some recommend a more casual dress but discourage anything too informal. For example, they do not see the need for a tie, but a polo shirt is inappropriate. Others also discourage too many colours and recommend just a white shirt because white gives an image of authority.
By wearing the same we hope that the pharmacist appears approachable and feels part of the team. Why should I wear a white coat? People want a community pharmacist who looks approachable and looks part of the community, especially in small pharmacies, says David Sprakes, manager of bespoke design at Simon Jersey, a company that supplies uniforms to the NHS. So while a casual element is a good idea, to make [clothes] too informal breaks down respect.
Mr Sprakes thinks male community pharmacists should wear shirts. A tie is not necessary but a polo shirt would be too casual.
And they should also avoid too many colours. Personally, I like white — it is crisp and clean — maybe with an accent of another colour. White can register authority and is recognisable. There is such an ingrained history [of white in health care], you need to bring white into the equation. Many organisations use dress codes and uniforms to support health and safety and to promote a professional image and, in February , the Department of Health published an evidence-based document to guide the development of local policies on uniforms and workwear.
Most trusts do not require their pharmacists to wear a uniform, but to comply with a general dress code that applies to all staff. Common to many codes is the prohibition of shorts, flip-flops and jeans.
If pharmacists wish, they can wear the same uniform as technicians tunic tops and trousers. Identification badges, therefore, are the chief means of identification.
Although there is no conclusive evidence that work clothes pose a hazard in terms of spreading infection, the rationale behind many dress code requirements is infection control. White coats have been branded as a possible source of infections because they tended not to be washed frequently and, for the same reason, the British Medical Association has objected to tie wearing.
Dr Needle says that he has not worn a white coat for over five years — although he still has one hanging up in his office — because it is an infection risk. There is a much more open and relaxed culture [now] and it is far less hierarchical. An example of necessity is when making an extemporaneous preparation, but this reflects older practice, says Alan Hall, chief pharmacist at the trust.
This means short or rolled-up sleeves, no watches or jewellery and no ties.
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