Scrub clothes vending machines

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I am the clinical manager of Surgical Services in a 26 bed OR. We are having extreme difficulty with maintaining scrub clothes for the staff to wear. Everywhere you turn in the hospital and outside, someone is wearing scrub clothes. In an effort to stop this abuse, we are considering using security badges for entrance into the locker rooms and also using scrub clothes vending machines. I guess I would like to see for those who work in a facility that uses the vending machines, their opinion. Is it easy to use? What are the pros and cons to using this type of system versus stocking multiple pairs on a shelf? How much space does this take up? Do you put in a user code to get scrubs? What stops individuals who are not supposed to wear scrubs from getting them out of the machine?

When I did my OB rotation last year, we got our scrubs out of a vending machine that was accessed with our ID card. There was a scrub "return" that you also accessed with the ID card and somehow it could tell what you were returning (maybe by weight??).

Anyway, if you took scrubs from the vending machine and didn't return them somebody would hunt you down like a rabid dog :roll

My only complain was that the scrubs came in sets by size and since I take a larger top than bottom, I had to take TWO sets. I always felt guilty about wasting the extra top and bottom, but not enough to stumble over the too-big pants :rolleyes:

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE ID access vending machine????

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WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE ID access vending machine????

name of manufacturer pleeeeease!!!

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yes please

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Specializes in OR, transplants,GYN oncology.

I have used the AutoValet dispenser. Our institution decided how many sets we could have out at a time before needing to return some to get more (It was 3 for us). Mixed-size sets were programmed in per user, as needed and could easily be changed by the user. They were always clean and pressed. I liked it.

The dispensing and "hamper" machines did require a fair bit of space.

Where I am now, we buy our scrubs and launder at home - yes, for the OR!!:eek: - and I would give anything to have the AutoValet again!

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the facility i currently work at does not have the vending machines. when i was doing clinical, a couple of the facilities did. i don't remember the names of the vending machines but, they had similar attributes. one only administered the same size scrubs while the other issued the pants and tops separately. one had a two out limit while the other had a 6 out limit. one used an access code while the other used a badge with a magnetic strip. etc... the sales reps for both system had to sign out and sign in their scrubs (the or managers would check out the scrubs for these instances).

i personally think that 2 scrubs out is not enough and that the systems should allow different size tops and bottoms. i wish i could help you more.

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Specializes in ED, OR.

Although I have never used this type of vending machine, this thread got my attention, so i googled it and found this:

http://www.autovaletsystems.com/index.html

Hope this helps....:cheers:

ps--this is not an advertisement, just thought this would be of some assistance....

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thank you all you 've been very helpfull , now i must search for a provider in Europe

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