Hospitals across the nation have encouraged the use of computers, ipads, smart phones and other devices to improve the access of health care workers to information essential for safe patient care. Information about lab interpretation, drugs, and diagnosis are all readily available on line. In some institutions, the Anesthetist is encouraged to call or text the Recovery area prior to delivering a fresh post-op patient. It now appears that the use of technology can be a two edged sword.
In addition to the intended use of electronic devices to enhance patient care, there is increasing evidence that health care providers are becoming distracted from patient care. A front page article by Matt Richtel in the New York times titled “As Doctors Use More Devices, Potential for Distraction Grows?” tells of a Neurosurgeon taking 10 personal calls during a case in which the patient was harmed. An article in Perfusion magazine reported that nearly half of the perfusionists in a survey admitted to texting or making a personal call while the patient was on cardiopulmonary bypass. Other stories include Circulating nurses making airline reservations during a case as well as texting facebook friends.
Patient advocate Suzanne Gordon writes of the problem of distracted drivers using cell phones and notes that 15 states still do not have laws against texting while driving. When discussing the case of the Neurosurgeon making numerous calls during surgery, she asks “where were the other OR staff when this was going on?” She notes that the same people who are texting in their cars are now texting while doing patient care. Suzanne recommends that one person in the operating room be designated as the only person to have access to cell phones during the case.
The challenge for health care workers is to fix the problem themselves before congress or Joint Commission imposes new rules. We must remember that the welfare of the patient comes first and resist the urge to text, call, or surf the net while providing patient care.
I agree this is a problem. The technology that they want us to use to enhance our practice is also what distracts us from the task at hand. Safe anesthesia has been based on vigilance for over 100 years. When technology gets in the way of vigilance, we have a problem
A minute saved is a minute earned, however, not while doing cases. I believe the lawyers are going to kill us on this one.
Too many cell phones and too much texting. It will all come back to haunt us if we don’t control it.
This is something that I see in the OR frequently. Nobody is concerned until there is a bad outcome and then it’s too late.
I work at a large medical center and I am disappointed at how many of my colleagues are focused on their phones when I go in to give a break. Phones in the OR should be for OR business only and kept to a minimum.