Technology Leading to "Distracted Doctors"
In an effort to limit medical errors, hospitals have increasingly turned to computers, smart phones, and other devices for instant access to medical data.
Unfortunately, this effort has resulted in doctors focusing on technology instead of their patients, which can be very problematic. Specifically troubling, doctors and nurses have admitted using smart phones to send texts or make personal phone calls during medical procedures.
This phenomenon of “distracted doctors” has prompted medical schools to begin emphasizing to students a need to make sure technology aids work instead of distracting from it. Unsurprisingly, young doctors, who have grown up constantly connected to technology, are the most commonly distracted by computers and smart phones at inappropriate times.
As a Chicago medical malpractice attorney, I feel that advancements in technology can certainly have a positive impact on the medical profession, such as by allowing instant access to patient data. Yet, at this point, the cost of the distractions caused by these gadgets may be far too great to justify the benefits.
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