Direct Effect: Prior to the invention of rubber surgical gloves, all surgeries were performed with bare hands and no barrier against cross-contamination. With the gloves, allergic reactions to certain chemicals could be prevented as well as contamination between either of the parties during surgery. In fact, the creation of the gloves was driven by Caroline Hampton, fiance of Halsted who had an allergic reaction to the chemical mercuric chloride that was used for disinfecting. The gloves made for a sterilized surgical environment. It can be said that medicine was now better.

Indirect Effect: An indirect effect of medical gloves was the higher survival rate after surgeries. The better sterilized environment prevented complications after surgery that would cause the death of the patient due infections rather than the surgery itself. The staff was also in better standing and better protected due to the invention of the gloves. The staff members could now avoid getting reactions to chemicals and this meant better attendance and taking less time off. A better equipped medical staff meant that hospital efficiency increased. This is one of the primary reasons that once the gloves were invented they were implemented within the John Hopkins Hospital and later to other hospitals throughout the nation.