The time had come to put something together. Hodges, who authored the policy, began the effort a year ago, first researching guidelines at other hospitals. He used focus groups to test his plan, then took the draft that come out of those focus groups to department directors and to the senior administration team. The policy took effect Jan. 1 but wasn't fully enforced until Feb. 12. The response, according to Hodges, has been very positive, and the few questions that have arisen were clarified quickly and informally.
Common sense is perhaps the policy's overriding guide.
It outlines proper hair color and style, clothing, shoes, jewelry and fingernails, among other things. But not all employees are created equal. Management and business employees, for instance, may not wear athletic shoes, while a nurse may since she or he might need them for comfort and speed. The code is hardly Draconian, either. Nodding to current fashion realities, the policy allows for small, unobtrusive tattoos to be visible, but restricts large tattoos or those that could be considered offensive or insulting.