Re-Think the Ink

Lynyrd (Figure 1) is an exceptional employee. He is always on time and positive on the phone with patients. He is a dedicated and resourceful problem-solver and an avid patient advocate. He multitasks front desk reception, patient calls, prior authorizations, and surgical scheduling with grace and ease. Patients absolutely love his heart-centered, generous, and positive demeanor. I love his warm, sunny greetings every morning.

Outfitted in a dress shirt and coordinating tie, Lynyrd’s appearance is always professional and polished, and it inspires other staff and physicians to up their fashion game. And because of his professionalism, incredible patient advocacy, and ability to meaningfully connect with people, patients don’t give a second thought to the extensive tattoos extending past his pressed shirtsleeves and collar, unless they find them beautiful and ask about them. When that happens, patients learn that Lynyrd is a Pacific Islander and that the extensive tattoos are symbolic, powerful, and culturally meaningful to him. Anyone who would dismiss such a gregarious and talented employee based simply on visible tattoos would be missing out on an incredibly valuable team member who elevates the entire clinic and patient experience.

Equally exceptional is Christeen (Figure 2), a hard-working single mom with a heart of gold. Every patient she encounters feels that he or she has received VIP treatment, and I suspect her tender loving care for patients plays a role in their successful outcomes. Christeen is the ultimate physician extender, with the emotional and raw intelligence to counsel patients on treatment recommendations after I’ve left the room. She is also absolutely dedicated to patient care—either you have it or you don’t—so much so that she facilitates patient education and personally addresses each patient’s questions and needs.

Christeen wears clean, pressed scrubs with a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath her short-sleeved scrub top or a long-sleeved scrub top to mask her tattoos. Patients deeply appreciate her attention and diligence enough that the occasional flash of ink from underneath her long sleeves is insignificant. As with Lynyrd, the person and his or her drive to help patients are what matters.

Tattoos that include obscene words or are erotic in content are different; these need to be covered up at all times. The point is that tattoos should not be automatic disqualifiers for employment. An employee without tattoos who is slovenly, has unclean hair, or reeks of body odor can affect a clinic’s ability to create a positive patient experience. We’ve had that situation, too, and quality control decisions were made.

Ophthalmology staff members tend to be young, and tattoos are generationally popular. I grew up in the preppy, clean-cut ‘80s, but I do think that Lynyrd’s tattoos are artful, beautiful, and a meaningful expression of his heritage and that Christeen’s tattoos are an extension of her identity. If Lynyrd or Christeen had been passed over for employment based on visible tattoos, I would have missed out on working with two wonderful people who make my job easier and, more important, make our patients happy and our clinic special. Consider the whole person: His or her real worth is more than skin deep.