Pride and Professionalism

St. Mary’s Hospital has introduced The Magic of Guest Service as a guidepost for excellence in caring for our guests and their needs. These standards were developed by our employees, based on their experience and desire to provide excellent guest services.  "Good Show, Bad Show" is a key guest service concept.  When you present yourself with pride and professionalism, that is a “good show.”  When guidelines are not followed we create a “bad show.”

A professional appearance is a matter of personal and professional pride. Our success depends on the quality of service we provide and the professional image that we convey. Every guest forms an impression based on what they see. Therefore, employees are expected to dress for work based on generally accepted business standards as described in departmental policies.

It is essential that each of us present a neat, well-groomed appearance at all times while on duty or when representing St. Mary’s Hospital in our satellite locations and in the
community. It is vital that each employee is easily identified as a hospital employee to guests patients, visitors, physicians and other employees.

• As an employee, you are expected to follow the policies on personal appearance established by your department, along with general guidelines established by the hospital.
• Please use this booklet as a reference for those professional standards which apply to all hospital employees.
• Appearance policies specific to your department are contained in your department manual. Ask your Department Leader if you have questions. You’ll also hear about the guidelines in your departmental orientation.
• Your Department Leader will work with you to meet the appearance guidelines. He or she will also interpret and enforce this policy consistently.
• Employees who do not meet the guidelines for appearance will be sent home to change and will not be paid for time lost from work.

• Photo-identification badges are distributed to new employees during orientation, and are to be worn at all times while on hospital property. These badges help our patients and their families recognize us as authorized caregivers. It helps them understand our varied roles in their hospital experience.
• ID badges are to be worn above the waist facing forward and void of any stickers,
  currency or other items that might obstruct the information contained on the badge.
• There is no charge for your initial ID badge. If a badge must be replaced, a charge of $10 will be assessed. There is no charge for replacement badges due to title, department or employee name change.
• The ID badge is considered hospital property and must be returned upon termination of employment.

General comments for appropriate employee appearance.

• Appropriate clothing, clean, neat and properly fitting
• Hair, beards, mustaches and sideburns clean and well groomed
• Closed toe shoes must be worn by all who work in patient care areas; non-skid soles are recommended
• Stockings or socks must be worn at all times
• Shirts and blouses must be conservative and appropriately fastened
• Employees may wear name pins, service awards and professional pins or their hospital sponsored pins, (i.e. CARE with RESPECT, volunteer awards, etc.)
• Hoop earrings may be no greater than 1/2” in diameter in patient care areas
• Appropriate jewelry (i.e. wrist watch, band rings, short necklaces, etc.)
• Jackets are preferred over sleeveless blouses or dresses

The following attire is not appropriate for work and may not be worn while on duty.

• Earphones/earbuds associated with MP3 players or iPods as well as a Blue Tooth phone accessory or any other personal music/electronic device
• “Denim jeans” except as approved by the Depart ment Leader when warranted by working conditions or worn as part of a uniform. “Denim Jeans” usually have rivets at the corners of pockets. All colored denim jeans are unacceptable unless approved by the Department Leader
• Lycra style pants, spandex pants, mid-calf pants, stretch pants, form fitting pants or stirrup pants
• Exercise clothing: sweat shirts, sweat pants, and T-shirts
• Low cut blouses or shirts and tank tops. Sleeveless blouses or dresses
• Low cut or backless dresses
• Shorts
• Crocs style shoes with holes
• Dresses and skirts that are excessively short
• Slippers or house shoes
• Facial jewelry (i.e. tongue rings, eyebrow rings, lip rings, nose rings, etc). Religious or cultural jewelry may be worn. NOTE: The hospital is not responsible for lost or stolen jewelry
• Perfume or cologne in patient care areas, or any area where employees may come in contact with patients
• Personal pagers or cellular telephones
• Open backed sandals
• Artificial nails in patient care areas
• Wearing extreme or eccentric hairstyles or hair color. Extreme color (i.e., blue, purple, green etc.) is unacceptable.