Gowns being phased out during covid-19 pandemic

A 20s woman I talked to the other day said she went for a physical and her gp nurse said that unless patients really insist on a gown, they think it's best for patients to simply undress to their under wear or panties before doctor comes in. The nurse said the gown could harbor germs so they want to cut down on as many items as possible to reduce contaminant garbage. I asked if they still use paper on the table and she said yes. She said it didn't bother her because the doctor usually takes off her gown anyhow once she lays down and is in just her panties or naked for the rest of the exam.

Can anyone else comment on changes in doctor office protocol during the pandemic?

I have my annual physical tomorrow morning. It will be fascinating to see the protocols they have in place for COVID-19. It does seem logical for reusable items (such as cloth gowns) to be kept to a minimum, but at the same time, I could see them rationing disposable items for encounters with potentially symptomatic patients. Perhaps disposable gowns or shorts will be implemented or they'll keep everything the same with reusable cloth gowns. I'll be sure to write up a blog post describing these protocols. I'll be wearing a mask and gloves to the office and will keep them on as much as possible. It will interesting to see how the doctors and nurses are protected and if they will ask me to remove my gloves and mask completely at the start of the exam, or if they'll work around them.

As far as I know, even prior to entering the building, there will be temperature screenings with anyone showing a fever being asked to wait in their car and then escorted directly to their exam room from their vehicles.

All of these unknowns coupled with my usual excitement with getting a physical will make this one of my more interesting physicals in awhile.

@supermoney777 try and take some pics if possible of the exam room and if there is anything different about the exam room and stuff. If they still have stuff laying out on the counters etc. can't wait to at least hear about your exam tomorrow hope all is well with you.

Well you can read more about it in my blog, but somehow there was a gown mix-up and I did not receive a gown (nor undress prior to the doctor entering the room). Therefore, I very regrettably cannot provide any first-person reporting of the gowning situation.

I consider this great news as I'm not a fan of gowns. I'd rather be told to undress to underwear or undress as I go. Shirt off, pants, underwear down for genital test. On my last physical I kept the gown on in case the nurse came back to check on me (and indeed she did come back with more questions), then when the doctor came in and it was time for the exam, I ditched the gown and was in my underwear for the duration.

Every Dr I have been to even during this panademic has the nurse give me a gown. They are sterile and one time use

I had my annual “well being” check a couple of weeks ago and did not wear a gown. It was a virtual exam using Zoom. I think Doctors will be using this a lot more in the future as normal protocol.

Every Dr I have been to even during this panademic has the nurse give me a gown. They are sterile and one time use

I can’t imagine a policy of not offering - even requiring - a gown for most exams requiring access to intimate parts. Preserving modesty should be the norm. For a full body dermatology check I was in my underwear. They were clean ?. I think it would have even awkward/difficult with a gown that would probably come off anyway.

Is is temporary or permanent?

Is is temporary or permanent?

Is what temporary or permanent? Gowns, virtual appointments, physical distancing, waiting room spacikngs and sanitization? There are going to be chane=ges that last a long time and will probably become permanent.

The issue of gowns is related to the shortage of supplies in general. All disposable items, as are disinfectant products are in short supply. Keep in mind that this is still new to all and the supply chain is extremely stressed... While my hospitals spent the focus of time procuring masks, ventilators and disinfecting products, other industries as well as individuals like us are scrambling to find disposable products.

But back to gowns, they were relatively inexpensive and readily available, but now especially in hospital outpatient clinics, cloth gowns are no longer being used. The large medical suppliers of these items are redirecting their supplies to the biggest clients at the expense of the small medical practices.

Be prepared to be naked or scantily clothed except for a mask for the immediate future ?. Perhaps “mask sex”, will become the next big fad....but in all seriousness, wear a mask, “socially distance” and wash your hands, often to stay safe.

?. Perhaps “mask sex”, will become the next big fad....

I have already noticed quite an increase in 'mask sex' on some porn sites along with vids programmed to simple but recognizable lockdown scenarios. This was already noticeable several weeks ago, but is now becoming more prevalent and I suppose popular as well.

Many of these vids seem to be amateur material. I haven't yet seen any medfet vids retitled/rebranded as mask sex yet though. I figure a few more months until we start seeing these ...

When I go to the doctors now they just have me wear my regular clothes and have me pull down my pants if necessary. It used to always be that they had me change into a gown. Even my ER visit as a patient I had pretty recently I was suprised that the whole time I was not asked to change.

I used to be asked to change into a gown for every physical exam.

I haven't been asked to wear a gown in years, even pre-pandemic.

I have seen the same doctor now for the last seven years. Up until two years ago he had me strip completely naked and put a gown on. Now he leaves me completely dressed and just lift's or removes what he needes as he goes. I should have asked him why? but didn't want him to think I was questioning him for not having me in a gown. I am curious why he changed this everything else he does exactly the same way.

I have not had to undress since my mid twenties. It’s been five or six years since I’ve had any kind of exam done involving the removal of any clothing. The doctor even presses on my stomach over my shirt.

I’m hoping I’m offered a gown on Friday. I plan on requesting one regardless. Doc will need to look at my skin all over for an infection and I hate the work around clothes shuffle. Jeans around ankles being asked to bend over, shuffle around barely able to move, lay on side with jeans down. Prefer not to feel like I’ll fall or being restricted with movement.

Not for me every doctor I see has me in a gown

I went to the doctor today and kept all my clothes on. She even listened to my chest over my shirt. I have a dermatologist appointment later this year and I might have to be in underwear or naked for that. I don’t know yet

I had to find a new doctor about 7 years before Covid. For 30 years my previous one had me remove everything on entering the exam room and stay naked for the whole exam, about 30 minutes. My new Dr. does everything with my clothes on. Once she agreed to have me naked when I said it didn't even feel like a physical. When I got there the nurse put a gown on the table which I told her I didn't need. When the Dr came in she actually held the gown telling me to slip my arms in the sleeves. As she began the exam it fell to the floor anyway. I have been told to put it on each time since. End of naked exams!!!!!

At the dermatologist last year (first time ever) the nurse had me remove all but my underwear then said those would be coming off soon and offered me a gown which I refused so I did sit there naked. The derm did the exam with me naked but she stopped at my waist except she did look under my foreskin because I had mentioned a scrape under it on the entrance form. I was expecting a total body skin exam for my first time but it didn't happen. Sometimes I think it was a foreskin show for those who had never seen one this being the USA and she had 2 other females join her. One was her assistant but the other was unknown. Maybe an office girl who just wanted to see a foreskin.

They gave me an appointment for this coming summer and a new derm because the first one is moving to Florida. She happened to be my neighbor one house from me.

I got a call from the office to tell me about the change but I couldn't understand the woman. English was obviously NOT her first language. Whatever language she did speak wasn't mine. So I went into the office where a very nice English speaking (and pretty) young girl assured me I WILL get a TBSE from the new derm who went to school here in my state. I think at 83 it's time for a TBSE. We'll see how that goes in July.

In the 5 plus years that my sub has had to see his doctors he has not had to wear a gown. If the doctor or nurses want to hear his heart/lungs they either go under his shirt or just listen through his shirt.

I have only worn a gown in the ER and at the surgicare, out patient surgery. No doctor visits have required a gown for any exam I have had.