RepScrubs, a Sanford, Fla.-based company, aims to prevent contamination by placing vending machines with disposable scrubs for sales representatives entering hospital operating rooms, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Each package from the vending machines has a scrub, a red bouffant and shoe covers. The sales representatives receive printed security badges that identify them by name, company and the hospital the scrubs were purchased from. The badges turn red eight hours after they'reprinted, indicating they are not valid for future use. Each packet costs about $7.95.
Jeff Feuer, who helped launch RepScrubs, started developing the idea after meeting with a hospital executive who said medical device sales representatives are contaminating ORs.
Although there is no evidence that sales representatives' scrubs are linked to an increased infection risk in the operating rooms, sales reps are not hospital employees, meaning hospitals cannot enforce clean attire policies on them.
Over 120 hospitals nationwide have signed up with RepScrubs, according to the company's website.
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