PAGE: 1 OF 6 PROCEDURE NO: 518 (Revised 1/4/2016) 1. Purpose Patient satisfaction is critical to the success of the University of Maryland Medical Center ( UMMC ). Positive patient experiences influence a patient s choice of where to obtain healthcare. UMMC wishes to celebrate selfexpression, empowerment and inclusion among its staff while creating a safe, professional and inviting health care environment for patients. Accordingly, UMMC has established this Dress Code and Personal Appearance policy for staff in order to: (1) minimize infection risk to our patients, (2) maximize safety for our patients and staff, and (3) raise level of professional appearance. 2. Scope/Definitions This policy applies to all University of Maryland Medical Center staff (including residents and fellows) located on the UMMC campus. Other UMMC partners, including temporary staff, contractors, students, UMB and FPI representatives and UMMS Corporate Shared Services staff are expected to comply with this policy. For the purposes of this policy, all of the foregoing individuals are referred to as staff. Exceptions to this policy may be made for religious or medical reasons, provided that the exception requested does not create an undue hardship on UMMC. Requests for exceptions will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Please contact your supervisor or Human Resources if you require an exception. This policy makes reference to appropriate attire. For the purposes of this policy, appropriate attire is apparel that: (1) is suitable and/or required to be worn to perform the duties of a staff member s position, such as scrubs for clinical staff or professional attire for office staff; (2) meets the requirements of Section 4.3, below; and (3) does not meet the definition of inappropriate attire described in Section 4.3.1, below. 3. Responsibility The personal hygiene and appearance of our staff directly affects the impression that they make on patients and the public. Each staff member is responsible for following the requirements of this policy and any applicable department or unit policy. Staff must comply with this policy while on duty. This means that a staff member must be in compliance with all aspects of this policy at the start of his/her respective shift and until the conclusion of his/her shift.. It is acknowledged that staff may enter the building just prior to the start of a shift and exit the building after the conclusion of a shift and wear attire which may be more casual and befitting to activities before or after a shift; in all cases, this attire must be appropriate, neat and clean. (For example, a staff member may wear appropriate, neat and clean workout attire if he/she is leaving from work to participate in exercise/fitness/gym/etc.type activity.) Each department/unit will be responsible for enforcing this policy, which contains the minimum standards for dress and personal appearance at UMMC. A department/unit may create a departmental/unit policy that addresses its specific operational needs, but any such policy must incorporate the requirements of this policy. Any departmental/unit policy must be in writing and must be reviewed by Human Resources before distribution to staff.
PAGE: 2 OF 6 PROCEDURE NO: 518 4. Policy Managers should discuss the dress code requirements necessary for each department and position during the initial pre-placement interview. Managers are to advise staff when attire is not appropriate to their work or does not comply with this policy or a department/unit policy. In these situations, the staff member will be directed to address the policy violation, which may in some instances require the employee to clock out, return to his/her home to change, and return to work. Corrective Action may be applied for violations of this policy, as appropriate. 4.1 Identification Badges, Pins, Buttons and other insignia Staff must visibly display their photo ID badge at all times while on hospital property. The badge is to be worn on the upper torso (right or left shoulder) with the picture side visible. Lanyards are permissible, but must be laundered regularly. If a badge is attached to a lanyard, the badge must still be located on the upper torso as described above. The following applies to staff when they are providing patient care or are present in patient care areas: Staff are permitted to wear only pins signifying technical or work-related accomplishments. Other buttons, stickers or decals are not permitted. Only logos of UMMC, UMMS or UMB departments within can be worn on visible clothing or accessories. Promotional logos of other organizations, institutions or causes are not permitted. 4.2 Hygiene/Grooming 4.2.1 Fingernails Artificial fingernails or extenders, fingernail extensions, enhancements or tips, gels, shellac, acrylic overlays, resin wraps, or acrylic fingernails are not permitted to be worn by any staff member, regardless of work role or location. Fingernail polish may not be chipped or peeling. Fingernails must be natural and trimmed to no longer than 1 / 4 inch in length from the fingertip. 4.2.2 Scents and Fragrances
PAGE: 3 OF 6 PROCEDURE NO: 518 The use of strong heavy scents and fragrances is highly discouraged. If you choose to wear a scent or fragrance product, please be considerate of others and select a light, mild scent. 4.2.3 Hair Hair must be clean, well-groomed and present a professional image. Keep it looking natural - no bright or unnatural colors (purple, pink, red, blue, green). Direct care providers must pull long hair back regardless of the role. Long hair is defined as hair below the chin. In compliance with Health Department regulations, all staff involved in the preparation of food must wear suitable hair coverings. Glitter, large adornments and/or headdresses should not be worn. Beards and mustaches must be appropriately trimmed at all times to meet the safety and sanitation requirements of the related job function. (Please contact your supervisor or Human Resources if you require an exception for religious or medical reasons). 4.2.4. Hygiene Proper personal hygiene and grooming are essential requirements for your job. Employees must come to work clean, fresh, appropriately dressed, and well-groomed. 4.3 Attire Staff are expected to dress professionally and appropriately for their specific job, and all attire must be clean, neat and in good condition. Supervisors and managers can specify additional alternative dress and grooming requirements based on the business needs of their departments. Supervisors and managers can also specify special dress and grooming requirements necessary for employee or patient safety. Individuals who provide patient care should wear freshly laundered apparel each day. Because outerwear (fleece and white lab coats included) are not laundered daily, they should be removed when entering a patient's room. 4.3.1 Inappropriate Attire
PAGE: 4 OF 6 PROCEDURE NO: 518 The following list contains clothing items that are considered unacceptable or inappropriate workplace attire: leggings, stretch/stirrup pants, shorts, mini-skirts, mini-dresses halter tops, tube tops, cropped tops, tank tops tee shirts sundresses jeans or denim attire of any kind or color, except where job functions necessitate, such as a trade contractor low cut blouses and dresses, revealing excessive chest area or cleavage visible undergarments either through sheer fabrics, including scrubs or improper concealment workout clothing or other exercise apparel (i.e., nylon jogging suits, etc.), sweat pants, sweatshirts, sweat jackets, hoodies, tee shirts, shorts, any shirt with sayings, symbols, etc., which would be deemed unethical or inappropriate for the professional image of the hospital hats/caps excessively loose, tight or revealing clothing sloppy, patched, torn, distressed, or tattered clothing costumes, except in association with a sanctioned UMMC event knee. 4.3.2 Footwear Dresses and skirts cannot be more than 3 inches above the For safety reasons, all staff must wear shoes that are appropriate to their job. Shoes should be neat, clean, presentable, and safe to an employee s job duties and job area. While on UMMC campus, all staff must wear close-toed shoes. The following are not appropriate footwear for the workplace at UMMC: open-toed shoes, flip-flops, sandals, and slippers. Slip-resistant, flat heel shoes are recommended to avoid a fall. Footwear prescribed by a physician will be acceptable when a written prescription is presented to the Employee Health Department. 4.3.3 Jewelry For safety and infection prevention purposes:
PAGE: 5 OF 6 PROCEDURE NO: 518 1/4/2016 UMMC staff are prohibited from wearing dangling earrings. Earrings must be no more then 1/2 inch below bottom of ear lobe. Earrings should be small and moderately sized. Ear gauges are not permitted. Necklaces must be worn underneath uniform or be modest in length and worn close to neck if visible outside the uniform. Bracelets, watches and other jewelry must not dangle (as in a charm bracelet) and be modest in size. In patient care areas, whenever jewelry interferes with the performance of hand hygiene and cannot be covered by gloves, it should be removed. 4.3.4 Scrubs Scrubs are defined as a top and bottom apparel that is worn in specific departments of the hospital. Scrubs, masks, shoe covers, and gloves should be worn only in areas designated by relevant department policies and only by those designated to wear them as part of their personal protective equipment. Masks, shoe covers and gloves may not be worn outside of the hospital building. Staff who work in the Shock Trauma Center: STC approved pink scrubs Staff who work in sterile areas: Royal Blue or Pink scrubs from scrub machines, based on where the individual s manager informs them to access scrubs Staff who work with children: Navy scrub bottoms with either a navy scrub top with official logo from our approved vendor or navy scrub bottoms and a childfriendly top All other staff who wear scrubs: Navy with UMMC logo purchased from Uniform Advantage, our official vendor: ummc.uniformadvantage.com Staff who do not wear scrubs: Professional attire or approved uniform for the individual s area Shirts under scrub tops are permitted as follows: Staff may wear white or navy long or short sleeved T-shirts under their navy scrubs Staff may wear white or pink long sleeved T-shirts under their pink scrubs in non-sterile areas Staff may wear white short sleeved (only short sleeves, no long sleeves) T-shirts under their royal blue or pink scrubs in sterile areas No other color or print T-shirts will be permitted. T-shirts with images or wording are not permitted. Jackets: Light weight navy or black zip jackets with official logo can be worn.
PAGE: 6 OF 6 PROCEDURE NO: 518 4.3.5 Piercings and Implants Earrings should be small and moderately sized, no more than 1 / 2 inch below bottom of ear lobe. All earrings must be completely covered when participating in sterile procedures. All other visible piercings (i.e., tongue, nose, eyebrow, lip rings, other facial piercing, wrist, upper extremities including wrists/hands/forearms) must be removed while in work environment. No dermal implants on the face or upper extremities (wrists/hands/forearms). No ear gauges. 4.3.6 Tattoos Patients, family members and colleagues should be able to focus on our staff, not on their body art. Tattoos are allowed and permitted to be seen, but not on the face. Staff are asked to treat tattoos as speech is treated: you can t swear, make hateful comments or lewd jokes in the workplace, so neither can your tattoos. If they do, they need to be covered. 4.3.7 Contact lenses or other eyewear lenses of unnatural color (i.e., red, purple, designs, etc.) are unacceptable. 4.3.8 The use of metallic sprays, glitter, or sequins on skin, hair or clothing is not permitted. 4.3.9 Within Medical Center work areas, or while traveling within the Medical Center, the personal use of earphones, headphones, earbuds, Bluetooth ear devices, or ipods is not permitted. 4.4 Corrective Action for Non-Compliance Non-compliance should be addressed in accordance with UMMC s corrective action procedure.