Buzz
As you approach an exam room in your doctor’s office, you might spot a row of colored flags placed beside the door frame. They resemble the colorful tabs that are often found on file folders, but unlike those, which you can usually write on or slip labels into, these medical flags typically don’t provide any explanations for their meanings.
The meaning behind these flags varies depending on the healthcare facility. There is no universal authority that dictates what each color represents, so it’s up to the staff to implement their own system (or not use them at all). The flags might indicate the room's status, the type of care needed for a patient, or a mix of both.
As per medical supplies company Medicus Health, green usually signals that a room is ready for use; red means the room is occupied; blue indicates that a nurse is required; yellow suggests the patient is at risk of falling; black implies an X-ray is needed; and white is for patients undergoing a physical. Pyramid Medical Management Services provides alternative interpretations: Red means the room is vacant; green means the patient is waiting for the doctor; and yellow indicates a nurse is needed.
To understand how your doctor's office uses these flags, you'd need to ask directly. However, you can also make educated guesses based on your observations. For instance, if the nurse tells you, 'The doctor will be with you shortly,' and then places the green flag on their way out, it’s likely that green indicates 'the patient is waiting for the doctor.'
Medical suppliers offer a wide range of variations for offices to choose from based on their preferred color-coding system. There are options with just two flags, subtle shades, and many others; customizable sets are available too. Even popular retailers like Amazon and Staples stock them—just in case you’re thinking about getting some to decorate your own door frames.
