Indiana University Health recently updated its dress code for perioperative practice domain, and the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine recently distributed the updated policy for review and adoption by all OB-GYN clinicians.
Bunny Suit: A disposable garment covering the entire body and is worn over clothing to prevent contamination.
Perioperative Practice Domain: The unrestricted, semi-restricted and restricted areas of the and connected areas.
Semi-restricted Area: The peripheral support areas of the surgical suite. This area may include equipment storage rooms, clean and sterile supply storage rooms, work areas for processing instruments, sterilization processing room(s), scrub sink areas, corridors leading from the unrestricted area to the restricted areas, entrance to locker rooms and sterile processing.
2. Team members seeking attire accommodations beyond the dress code policy for religious reasons may discuss these matters with a member of the perioperative or maternity leadership team, such as clinical manager, educator, or nursing director.
4. Personal hygiene requirements related to cosmetics, tattoos, and undergarments are as per section V.A. (c), in the IU Health system Professional Image Policy.
6. All persons entering semi-restricted and restricted areas must wear clean, hospital-laundered surgical scrub attire, Professional Image, Hospital Laundered Scrub Attire Utilization and Distribution Policies.
8. ID badges should be visibly worn at shoulder level.
9. Bags, suitcases, backpacks, fanny packs, briefcases, etc., may be taken into the Perioperative restricted area only if necessary to conduct the surgical procedure (e.g., as needed to transport cameras, loupes, charts, vendor products, organ procurement sup plies, etc.). These bags should be covered in plastic if possible. Cell phones, tablets and other personal communication devices should be disinfected utilizing hospital approved disinfectants and according to the device manufacturer's instructions prior to entering the restricted area.
11. Team members with a known allergy to hospital laundry detergent should contact Employee Occupational Health Services and follow EOHS recommendations for scrub attire.
13. Fingernails should be kept clean, natural, and short.
Scrub Attire
1. Selection of surgical attire follows IU Health process for product evaluation with the recommendation that surgical attire be made from tightly woven, low-linting fabric.
2. Scrub shirts may be worn inside or outside of scrub pants. If the shirt is worn outside the scrub pants it should fit close to the body.
3. Shirts with collars, turtlenecks, or long sleeves must not be worn beneath scrub shirts. Lab coats may not be worn into the semi-restricted or restricted area. Short sleeve shirts may be worn under scrub shirts but must be contained completely within or covered by the surgical attire. Clothing that cannot be covered by surgical attire must not be worn. Personal apparel worn under surgical attire must be laundered daily.
4. Excessively long scrub pants should be appropriately folded to ankle level. Scrub pants must not be folded up to the knees.
5. Surgical attire that is visibly soiled, wet, torn, or contaminated should be changed and remain at the healthcare facility for laundering.
6. Team members should change into professional wear, approved uniforms for their role, or appropriate casual attire prior to leaving the facility or when traveling between buildings located on separate campuses.
7. Health care personnel should change into clean scrubs prior to entering the semi-restricted or restricted perioperative area from another health care facility or from outdoors.
Head/Face
Shoe Wear
More information can be found via these websites:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2023). Foot protection.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2023). Eye and face protection.