Distractions from Electronic Devices Increase Risk of Medical Errors
Shopping on eBay, checking out airline fares, browsing the Internet and checking e-mails - these are just some of the activities that medical professionals in American hospitals are being caught in, even as medical procedures are underway. The New York Times has a report on how distractions are increasing the risk of medical errors in American hospitals.
The use of technology has become widespread in hospitals around the country, as hospitals have begun investing in access to technology to enhance patient safety. There is no question that technology has many benefits. Doctors who use a smart phone can have important information like patient medical records and prescription details at their very finger tips. However, the risks of distractions from these devices are also very real.
The New York Times found a number of incidences from around the country, in which doctors, nurses and medical technicians were caught using cell phones while performing procedures and in other inappropriate situations. Doctor distractions have been linked to more than one medical malpractice lawsuit, including one out of Denver, in which the doctor was having a conversation on his hands-free set while performing a surgery on a patient. Those distractions were ultimately blamed for errors during the surgery that left the patient paralyzed. The doctor was making personal calls at the time of the procedure.
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