By Laura French
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A Pennsylvania paramedic has spearheaded a program to provide clean clothes to hospital patients whose clothes have been destroyed or confiscated as evidence.
Susquehanna Regional EMS Paramedic Kathy Kling worked with leaders at UPMC Williamsport to open Angie’s Closet, which she named after her mother, a healthcare advocate who died in a vehicle crash in 2017, according to UPMC.
“In my years of experience, I’ve seen a lot of patients come in for services because of trauma or police investigations, and in many of those cases their clothing has either been cut off or confiscated. While the hospital does provide scrubs and other temporary clothing, I wanted to be able to offer something more,” Kling said in a statement. “It’s all about helping them to restore their dignity and respect after [what] they’ve been through. It might seem like a small gesture, but it has a lasting impact on the patients.”
Angie’s Closet includes new and gently-used clothes purchased through donations or donated by UPMC staff. The clothes are provided for free to ED patients who need them.
https://www.facebook.com/UPMCSusquehanna/photos/a.192807920735186/3996480683701205/?__tn__=%2CO*F