Mobile devices have infiltrated just about every corner of our personal and professional lives. Our devices are both instrumental and distracting at the same time. However, while interruption of personal and social interactions has become commonplace, there are situations that by their nature demand our undivided attention to prevent medical errors. Cardiac ablation, as one anesthesiologist learned, is not the time to delve into social media. Due to lack of attention during the procedure, the anesthesiologist fabricated the blood-oxygen levels to appear as normal. Unfortunately, the patient had dangerously low levels for about 15-20 minutes before turning blue. She died 10 hours after surgery.
To avoid tragedies like the one above, the following steps have been suggested
Regulations and policies can only go so far. Cultural changes (the last bullet) can go a long way in minimizing medical errors and increasing our personal interactions with all team members.
Distracted Doctoring and the iPatient.
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