ACS issues statement on OR attire

Editor's Note

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on August 4 issued a Statement on Operating Room Attire for surgeons in and out of the OR.

The statement  provides detailed guidelines on wearing the skullcap in a way that ensures patient safety, facilitates enforcement of the standard on wearing scubs only in the hospital, and suggests the adoption of distinctively colored scrub suits for OR personnel.

Among the recommendations:

• Soiled scrubs and hats should be changed as soon as feasible and certainly before speaking with family members.
• Dangling masks should not be worn at any time.
• OR scrubs should not be worn in the hospital outside of the OR area without a clean lab coat or appropriate cover.
• OR scrubs should not be worn outside of the hospital.
• During invasive procedures, the mouth, nose, and hair should be covered to avoid potential wound contamination. Large sideburns and ponytails should be covered or contained.
• Jewelry worn on the head or neck should be removed or appropriately covered during procedures.

The tenets of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) include professionalism, excellence, inclusion, innovation, and introspection. Appropriate attire is a reflection of professionalism and facilitates establishing and maintaining a patient-physician rapport based on trust and respect.