New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Cohen Children's Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the area to implement the use of new containment-repelling hospital scrubs to help prevent the accumulation of bacteria and other contaminants on the fabric.
The scrubs, created by Orlando, Fla.-based Vestagen Protective Technologies, are made with Vestex, a fabric endorsed by the American Hospital Association shown to repel fluids and reduce the retention of microbes on garment in various hospital-based studies.
Medical professionals in the hematology-oncology unit at Cohen Children's began wearing the uniforms in January. As of August, 60 percent of Cohen Children's staff were outfitted with the new uniforms. Cohen Children's, which is owned by Great Neck, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, expects to have the entire staff outfitted in the uniforms by October.
Peter Silver, MD, medical director at Cohen Children's, said in a statement the new apparel is part of the hospital's overarching efforts to allow employees to "feel safe in the hospital environment" and "to reduce their exposure to body fluids or risk of contracting an illness."
Since implementing the scrubs at Cohen Children's, Northwell Health officials are considering implementing the new uniforms at Manhasset, N.Y.-based North Shore University Hospital.
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