the societal addiction to speed, technology and distraction, what Dr.
Papadakos calls "hyperculture." Technology can be a powerful tool,
but electronic devices are also powerfully addictive. It's hard to
believe that a surgeon can browse Facebook while a patient is on the
operating table, but it happens all too often.
• Safety risk. A nidus for infection, phones and tablets are "the third
hand nobody pays attention to," says Dr. Papadakos. You can wash
your hands thoroughly and forget about the phone in your pocket. The
problem, says Dr. Papadakos, is that our societal hyperculture has got-
ten ahead of our hospital culture. The tendency to check apps, browse
the Internet, answer calls and text loved ones is so innate in this digital
age that it is continually breaking the boundary of the sterile OR.
• Malpractice slam-dunk. What would patients think if they knew
they were putting their trust into this kind of care? Well, in many cases,
they'll sue. And in a malpractice case, forget about having any defense
when your entire web history is available to prosecutors.
• Focus on patient care. Dr. Papadakos has been pushing hard to
educate healthcare professionals on this issue. The road to changing
the culture starts with self-realization, knowing the risks that devices
pose in the OR and rethinking our relationship with digital tools. In
the OR, it means calling out coworkers who get liberal with their
phone use. Dr. Papadakos also advocates practicing concentration
and close listening when dealing with patients, moving away from an
addiction to multitasking and distraction and working one-on-one
with priority No. 1: the patient.
If you have a teenager, you know that life can be a struggle to pry
them away from their phones. Constantly scrolling, typing, chatting
and who knows what else. Healthcare professionals really are no
different from teenagers, says Dr. Papadakos.
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