Those in the medical profession normally wear medical lab coats over their medical scrubs or regular clothing to protect their clothing and to identify themselves as healthcare workers. Lab coats are coats of thin material designed with or without pockets on the side. Some lab coats button or snap while others are worn open.

Hospital nurses and doctors are not the only people who wear medical lab coats. Those who work in doctor offices, dentist offices, pharmacies, and other types of examining offices such as ultrasound and X-ray all wear lab coats to work. When thinking about how your medical office benefits from using medical lab coats think about the following:

1. Medical lab coats come in a variety of colors and styles.

2. Embroidered medical lab coats are also available.

3. Companies order lab coats in sizes to fit all staff members.

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Use your medical lab coats to create the mood in your office

Medical lab coats add to the mood and atmosphere of a medical office, something especially important in pediatric offices. Staff members wear cartoon character lab coats or holiday seasonal lab coats to make a cheerful environment and to lessen the fear of the visit for children. A white lab coat may, on the other hand, produce a very serious and professional environment in adult offices. Have all staff members wear the same solid color lab coat to create a professional look.

I recommend: Read about lab coats from Lab Coat Info. Iula offers ideas about using medical lab coats with children.

Distinguish medical departments in a multipurpose building by differing medical lab coats

Some buildings house a variety of medical offices and departments. For example, ultrasound and radiology may be in the same location and share facilities. Have each department select a different color of lab coat. This method makes it easy for people to identify members of a particular department by the color of their lab coat. This also works for hospitals. Nurses working on different floors wear different styles or colors of medical clothing to identify their department. Lab coat colors also distinguish the rank of doctors and nurses. Have registered nurses wear a different color than LNP nurses.

I recommend: Discover the importance of lab coats for doctors by reading the article at Article Factory. Enzine offers an article about the benefits of wearing long, quality lab coats.

Identify staff members from other persons by wearing medical lab coats

In some cases, it is important for staff members to wear lab coats or doctor scrubs so others identify them as a medical worker. In places such as nursing homes, have staff members wear lab coats so that family members of residents easily identify whom to contact for help. Use lab coat embroidery to identify the staff member's name and position.

I recommend: Articles Tree offers an article discussing various lab coats. View white lab coats and their features from Medical Coats.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for varieties such as women's lab coats and maternity lab coats to meet the needs of all your staff. Also look for a discount; lab coats you buy in bulk can save your business money.

Working in the medical profession, you must present the best possible image, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Spiff up a standard white lab coat with extra features.

Put your best foot forward and choose the style of medical lab coats for daily work that best suits you, your needs and your life style. Buying quality lab coats for your clinic, dental office or any other medical professional group doesn’t have to break your budget.

Getting the traditional white lab coat can often be done economically by buying discount lab coats in quantities.

1. Check into extra features. Most nurses prefer medical lab coats that come with plenty of pockets for putting pens, pads and various other objects into during a work shift. 2 to 4 pockets are ideal.
2. Order medical lab coats in a bigger size than you normally wear. Wearing quality lab coats that are bigger allows you to move around more easily, especially with your arms.
3. Take advantage of extra fashion perks in a lab coat. Some women’s lab coats have features like ties in the back. Notice that medical lab coats come in masculine, feminine and unisex styles.

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Embody the image of your medical profession with embroidered lab coats

Presenting an image that is uniquely yours adds personality to your chosen profession and draws people to your business.

I recommend: Order personalization with lab coat embroidery, get email notices and receive a discount on bulk orders. Notice different designs and find discount lab coats at the Lydia's Uniforms.

Digitize your design for desirable dress in the medical profession

Design a logo for your medical clinic, office or dental profession. Paying careful attention to detail, remember to look at a wide range of styles and colors. Don't get hung up on just a basic white lab coat. Think about pastels and printed designs, too.

I recommend: Get in-house digitizing for a one-time setup fee when you want a small design logo with your lab coat embroidery. Find a wide range of styles to choose from at LabcoatsUSA.com.

Make ordering medical lab coats medicinal to your budget--buy online and Save

Buying online can often save you money when you purchase quality lab coats.

I recommend: Shop for comfort, convenience and quality and register online to receive promos about bargains. Get discounts and extra features such as cuffed sleeves on medical lab coats.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that most employees in the medical profession pay for their own medical lab coats, but many hospitals and clinics provide an allowance for medical uniforms. Realize, too, that the money spent on medical uniforms is tax deductible.

Medical uniforms almost always include white lab coats. Doctor scrubs and other medical lab coats exude an air of professionalism and trust and are worn by virtually everyone in the medical field. There are also a lot of functional advantages to the white lab coat: You can keep pens and a prescription pad in your pocket, you can protect your scrubs and clothes from spills, and you can show off your personality by choosing a special style or pattern.

Lab coats come in a wide variety of styles. Some are made from just men or women, while others are unisex and can be worn by anyone. Since there is such a variety of medical lab coats types and styles, consider the following before you shop:

1. Ask yourself how long your medical lab coats should be. An unwritten rule in the medical world is that doctors wear longer coats while nurses and other staff wear shorter ones.

2. Think about how many pockets you prefer for your lab coat to have. Two main locations for pockets are the breast and hip areas. Some have pockets inside, too.

3. Consider what type of closure works best for your coat. Quality lab coats can come with buttons, snaps or even zippers to close the front of the coat.

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Choose unisex medical lab coats to keep down cost

These coats will fit almost everyone, as they most often come in small, medium and large sizes. Since they are unisex, they have fewer stylistic features and may fit a bit more awkwardly for someone with, say, large shoulders or hips. Still, they are affordable in most cases, and you'll be able to find one that fits you. Discount lab coats often come in bulk quantities, so you may be able to buy unisex coats for your entire office that way.

I recommend: Browse through the different styles of unisex lab coats at Lydia's Professional Uniforms and Scrubs AC.

Find womens lab coats that are functional and flattering

Women's lab coats have a bit more tailoring to them than unisex coats. They usually are more fitted, coming in at the waist and flaring a bit for the hips. This is not just for aesthetics; it allows the woman to move more comfortably while wearing the coat. For women who are pregnant, maternity lab coats are available.

I recommend: Take a look at the extensive offerings at Cherokee by UniformsAndScrubs.com. There are quite a few attractive coats available at ADVANCE Healthcare Shop.

Buy disposable medical lab coats for protection

A disposable garment has a plastic coating or weave that repels liquids and usually keeps them from soaking through to your medical scrubs or uniform. Although nothing short of a biohazard suit will completely protect you from all types of bodily fluids, a disposable lab coat is a good idea for medical staff that are exposed to any type of contamination. There are a variety of weights, colors, sizes and styles available, depending on your needs.

I recommend: Check out the lightweight, fluid-repellent disposable lab coats at AIW, which all have pockets for convenience. The disposable lab coats and gowns at QuickMedical come in handy for surgeries, emergency services and phlebotomy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Lab coat embroidery is popular among medical staff. This gives the coat a personal touch and distinguishes which jacket belongs to whom when the coats aren't being worn. It also identifies you and your position to patients and peers.

Medical lab coats add a sense of professionalism to medical facilities. Most of these lab coats are made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton, which makes these the most inexpensive. Other fabrics, including a special fluid resistant blend, will be more expensive.

When preparing your budget to absorb the cost of medical lab coats, you must consider the type, style and color of the lab coats. Consider the following suggestions to help you gauge medical lab coats pricing and costs:

1. Consider buying men’s medical lab coats.

2. Choose women's lab coats for a tailored look for any woman.

3. Save money by purchasing unisex medical lab coats.

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Price men's medical lab coats

Men's medical lab coats are made slightly longer than women's lab coats with wider shoulders. If you want people in your facility to have a tailored look, these coats are ideal for the males on your staff. You can expect to pay higher prices (often $5 to $10 per coat) for big and tall lab coats.

I recommend: Lab Coats Unlimited offers men's lab coats, including a long sleeve white lab coat and consultation coats, for under $40. Add $5 to $25 per coat if you want embroidered lab coats. LabCoatsUSA.com sells a varied selection of discount lab coats. Prices for most of the men's lab coats, including anti-static are under $35.

Order women's lab coats

Women's lab coats are made to accommodate a woman's curves. This style of lab coat is usually based on a woman's dress size for long coats or blouse size for waist length coats. When you order ladies lab coats, expect to pay more for maternity and plus sizes. These often add up to $15 to the price of each coat.

I recommend: AllHeart sells brand name women’s lab coats. Prices vary depending on the brand name and style you choose. Lab coat embroidery adds about $5 per line to each lab coat. Baby Phat lab coats start at around $25, while prices start at around $15 for Dickies lab coats. Free shipping is offered on qualifying orders. Escrubz.com sells medical lab coats for women. Prices range from $18 to $25.

Consider unisex medical lab coats

Unisex medical lab coats are ideal for facilities that don't have personalized lab coats. These can save your business money because you won't have to purchase a brand new lab coat each time a new staff member begins work. Instead, you can have a former employee's lab coat cleaned and hand it over to the new employee. Should you opt to do this, make sure that you order a varied selection of sizes to accommodate any staff member.

I recommend: Advance Healthcare Shop sells unisex medical lab coats. Prices start at around $15 for these quality lab coats. This company even offers children's lab coats, which can be used for events like 'Take your child to work' days. White Swan offers unisex medical lab coats, including fluid resistant. You can expect to pay around $25 for most coats; however, fluid resistant coats are around $45 to $50.