If you have ever worn or seen a hospital gown, you know how undignified they can be when your butt is usually exposed by the thin garment.
But there's a new hospital gown being tested in Montreal and it could be available as of next spring.
The new gown features plastic snap buttons in the front and softer easy-to-wash microfiber, so no more finicky ribbon ties in the back and flimsy unbreathable fabric.
"Because it's difficult to attach them at the back, a lot of patients have the tendency to wear two," said Raymond Morel, general manager of the non-profit Montreal Central Laundry which provides laundry services for most of the hospitals and other healthcare institutions in the city.
"It does fit a lot more people, (...) using the plastic snaps to actually fasten it down."
Morel said they started working on this new hospital gown four years ago to find something that would provide patients with a little more dignity.
"The current patient gown being used in the hospitals has been in service for nearly 40 years," Morel told CJAD 800.
Morel said while the initial cost to purchase the new gowns will be higher than that of the old model, the new garment will be cheaper and better for the environment in the long run.
"Whereas today we'll do anywhere between 30-40 wash cycles with one patient gown, we expect that longevity to go up to 100-120 wash cycles," said Morel.
"It's going to be less expensive to use by the hospital because it's going to last so much longer and it's going to cost so much less to wash and dry."
They are currently testing 12,000 gowns in hospitals and long term care homes during the pilot project.
MONTREAL CENTRAL LAUNDRY