Small details, big impact — make compassionate care visible.
In healthcare, compassion is more than a value — it’s a vital part of healing. For vulnerable patients, the simple act of knowing who is caring for them can make a meaningful difference. Custom-embroidered scrubs that display a clinician’s name and role provide a small but powerful step toward a warmer, more connected experience.
Introducing the Person, Not Just the Practitioner
The Hello My Name Is campaign, founded by Dr Kate Granger, reminds us that introductions aren’t just polite — they are the foundation of trust. Embroidered names and roles visually reinforce the introduction, making the connection clear and personal throughout the patient’s journey.
In Australia, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) is actively encouraging its members to embrace this new culture of compassionate connection. Through its communications and professional networks, the ASA is promoting the adoption of the Hello My Name Is campaign across anaesthetic departments nationwide. By introducing embroidered names and clear identification on scrubs, anaesthetists and their teams can help humanise the clinical environment — making it easier for patients to feel seen, respected, and reassured before undergoing procedures.
Compassion + Communication: Insights from the Garling Report
The Garling Report (Final Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Acute Care Services in NSW Public Hospitals) highlighted the need for a more patient-centred culture, where respectful communication and transparency are everyday practice. Making names and roles clearly visible supports these aims by turning compassionate intent into an unmistakable, practical signal: “I am here. I’m responsible. I see you.”
Why Embroidery Matters in Everyday Care
- Clarity & trust: Patients and families instantly see who is caring for them, reducing anxiety and confusion.
- Professional warmth: A polished uniform with a personal touch humanises clinical interactions.
- Team identity & accountability: Clear, consistent identification fosters pride and responsibility.
- Visible values: An optional Hello My Name Is insignia keeps compassionate care front-of-mind for staff and patients.
How to Implement It in Your Organisation
- Adopt the ethos: Encourage staff to introduce themselves verbally and via their uniform. The campaign’s guidance and assets are available for use to promote compassionate care and education — see Hello My Name Is.
- Choose clear embroidery standards: Use a consistent format (e.g., First name + Role) and a legible font size/placement. Learn more on our Customise Your Scrubs page.
- Roll out by department: Start with high-contact teams (e.g., theatres, ED, wards) and expand. Find support for large-scale implementations on our Business Orders page.
- Link to organisational goals: Frame name embroidery as part of improving communication and culture, aligned with the Garling Report recommendations.
- Measure & celebrate: Collect quick patient comments and staff feedback; share wins in team huddles and internal newsletters.
Make Compassion Visible
In busy clinical environments, simple gestures matter most. When a patient can see the name and role of the person caring for them, it builds trust and strengthens the therapeutic relationship. By combining the Hello My Name Is campaign’s mission with the reform-oriented insights of the Garling Report, embroidered scrubs become more than uniforms — they become a visible promise of compassionate care.
Helpful Links
- Customise Your Scrubs (internal)
- Business Orders (internal)
- Hello My Name Is (external)
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) (external)
- Garling Report – NSW Government overview (external)
