Iredell Health System Uses Grant Funds for Clothing Closet

In healthcare, it’s not unusual for a patient’s clothing to be destroyed from trauma or emergency procedures. For most hospitals, this causes patients to be sent home in scrubs if there are no family or friends to bring them a change of clothing. But employees at Iredell Health System knew there was a better, more dignified solution.

“We had a community meeting with a group of people that were talking about a patient that had left the hospital in paper scrubs,” said Tanya Sprinkle, Director of Care Transitions and Case Management. “The community members thought that was demoralizing to the patient, and we agreed.”

While Sprinkle understood their concerns, providing paper scrubs to patients who otherwise have nothing else to wear is standard procedure for most healthcare facilities. As of recently, healthcare workers and community members have been creating clothing closets to mitigate this issue. The only obstacle for Iredell was funding.

Each year, IHS departments can apply for grants through the Grateful Patients and Families Fund, managed by the Iredell Health Foundation. This fund was created to meet unmet patient needs throughout the health system. Past grant funds have helped provide blanket warmers in radiation therapy and wound care, food, medications, and living situation enhancements. Seeing an opportunity to make the hope of a clothing closet a reality, Care Transitions applied and was awarded $2,500 in Spring 2024.

Referred to as Dress for Discharge, the closet has all the basic clothing necessities that a patient may need.

“I talked to the staff in the emergency department to see what types of clothing to purchase for the closet. They suggested underwear, shorts, knit pants, t-shirts, and sports bras. When it gets cooler outside, we will purchase sweatshirts and jackets,” said Sprinkle.

The closet, located in the hospital, is well-organized with brand-new clothing in sizes ranging from extra small to 3x. Sprinkle organized some “grab-and-go” bags by size so staff can quickly gather what they need for patients. As more clothing is given out, Sprinkle will continue to stock the closet with remaining grant funds.

The only criteria for patients to receive clothing from Dress for Discharge is to demonstrate a need for the service. IHS employees know that, after experiencing trauma, the last thing on a patient’s mind should be what they will wear home.

“It’s helping the patient with their dignity and self-image,” Sprinkle explained. “It gives them a little boost and they don’t have to think about what they’re wearing.”

Iredell Health System’s core values are compassion, respect, collaboration, and integrity. Dress for Discharge is an excellent example of these values. For more than 70 years, Iredell Health System has discovered innovative ways to provide the community with patient-centered, quality healthcare. If you are interested in donating to the Dress for Discharge closet, monetary donations are accepted through Iredell Health Foundation’s Grateful Patients & Families Fund.