Rhea of Sunshine: hospital clothing should be altered

In+this+weekly+column%2C+Wingspan+staff+reporter+Rhea+Advani+provides+her+take+on+a+variety+of+topics.

Morgan Kong

In this weekly column, Wingspan staff reporter Rhea Advani provides her take on a variety of topics.

Rhea Advani, Staff Reporter

Earlier today my grandma started passing out consistently, and due to her old age and previous medical conditions, she was rushed to the hospital. Luckily, after emergency surgery and the several sets of tests she went through, she is now okay and on bed rest. But something that she and everyone thought about was the problem with hospital clothing.

Though this is one of the smaller problems patients usually face, it still is a problem.

In general, my grandma is a very cold person, and it runs in the family. We all get cold really easily. However, any and all hospitalized patients are required to wear a thin backless gown and socks (if you request them). 

I understand why they make this a requirement, but hospitals should take into consideration that patients can get cold, and their 60 degree temperatures really don’t help. These issues can be solved very easily, though. 

An option would be giving patients thicker and more substantial clothing for them to wear while staying in the hospital. Also, giving patients the option of wearing their own clothes can solve this issue while also making patients feel more comfortable and homey. However, this option might make it difficult for doctors to differentiate between patients and visitors.

But, thinking about these options for patients might be helpful, make recovery time quicker, and help patients feel more comfortable during their stay.