Phone Usage During Medical Tests - Page 3

BlueFinch · ‎08-31-2019

I worked in a very busy hospital and staff were not allowed to use their cell phones on duty, unless it was a dire emergency, or they sought permission first to carry their phone. Usually due to some type of personal issues. Only those in charge carried phones and beepers. But this has become increasingly lax over time, in every setting in the last few years.

Also in some settings, work issue cell phones are now used to communicate important information, rather than having someone having to announce over the intercom, or waste time trying to find staff. Simple texts with questions, or where you're needed next. It saves some steps for all.

With all things this, too, can be abused. It's poor form to ignore a patient and avoid reassuring discussion, or questions. A patient should never feel like an object.

Everyone having procedures are stressed. If staff needs to use phones, they need to excuse themselves politely and make it quick. Focus needs to be on the patient, first and foremost.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@BlueFinch wrote:
I worked in a very busy hospital and staff were not allowed to use their cell phones on duty, unless it was a dire emergency, or they sought permission first to carry their phone. Usually due to some type of personal issues. Only those in charge carried phones and beepers. But this has become increasingly lax over time, in every setting in the last few years.

Also in some settings, work issue cell phones are now used to communicate important information, rather than having someone having to announce over the intercom, or waste time trying to find staff. Simple texts with questions, or where you're needed next. It saves some steps for all.

With all things this, too, can be abused. It's poor form to ignore a patient and avoid reassuring discussion, or questions. A patient should never feel like an object.

Everyone having procedures are stressed. If staff needs to use phones, they need to excuse themselves politely and make it quick. Focus needs to be on the patient, first and foremost.

Op didn't say they were personal phone calls and it's 2021, many hospital and many hospital staff members, especially clinical staff have hospital issued cell phones. I'm not a clinician and I have one so that I'm available to physicians and staff at all times. I think they were monitoring op which left them free to to do other aspects of their job. If op had a question, they'd answer her but in they didn't have the luxury of chit chatting with her.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

I don't go to doctors, so I don't know what goes on in that regard. But my impression of the scenario is that that was INCREDIBLY rude, inconsiderate, and thoughtless.

I don't like the way you were treated and guess I'll never understand how people can play on their phones during working hours. When I still worked, cell phones were fairly new - at least to the extent that everybody and their dog had one. Toward the end I was working for a small, local company and had to tell my people that you put your phone away while you're on the clock. I think, back then, it wasn't such a big deal.

I would be absolutely incensed having been treated like you were treated.

PickyPicky3 · ‎10-22-2018

@chrystaltree I think your interpretation is correct. They answered any question I had about the procedure, but just gave me quick answers when I went "off-topic."

However, it's 2022 .

colleena · ‎03-27-2010

@PickyPicky3 Took my DH to ER a couple weeks ago as he had been having issues w/kidney stones. It was quite busy there, the nurses & doctors were doing amazing but almost running to get things done & I noticed the use of computers by some but also the use of phones as they were checking the status of test results, appointments, new patients being checked in, etc. & some even mentioned that having access to the phones was very helpful.

Hope your test results come back with what you are looking for.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@chickenbutt wrote:
I don't go to doctors, so I don't know what goes on in that regard. But my impression of the scenario is that that was INCREDIBLY rude, inconsiderate, and thoughtless.

I don't like the way you were treated and guess I'll never understand how people can play on their phones during working hours. When I still worked, cell phones were fairly new - at least to the extent that everybody and their dog had one. Toward the end I was working for a small, local company and had to tell my people that you put your phone away while you're on the clock. I think, back then, it wasn't such a big deal.

I would be absolutely incensed having been treated like you were treated.

@chickenbutt things are so different now. What they were doing on their phones could have been work related.

These could have been work issued phones and those phones could be checked daily to see if any thing personal was going on. Even if they deleted them, everything is backed up and they all know this.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@colleena wrote:
@PickyPicky3 Took my DH to ER a couple weeks ago as he had been having issues w/kidney stones. It was quite busy there, the nurses & doctors were doing amazing but almost running to get things done & I noticed the use of computers by some but also the use of phones as they were checking the status of test results, appointments, new patients being checked in, etc. & some even mentioned that having access to the phones was very helpful.
Hope your test results come back with what you are looking for.

@colleena that's the way it's done now a days. My Dr mostly uses an Ipad and while she's talking to me she's very typing away even thought it might look as if she's doing something personal all because it's an Ipad.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@PickyPicky3 wrote:
I tried to initiate some talk, but it fell flat.

@PickyPicky3 they were busy responding to what was going on in the messages they received. It could have been about another patient who also had some tests done or checking to see how many more patients needed that test done.

Some patients would ask them what they think about the test and how it's going. They can't answer because they don't know and they will tell you that.

They could tell you how long the test would take and that's about it.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@PickyPicky3

Have had probably over 100 different types of long procedures over the last 20 years. If I am able to see, or even hear someone! It is me(I) that starts a conversation. Not uncommon for me to make them extended conversations when going through them.

I learned in my mid-teens not to wait if I felt it necessary to speak up for some reason, or just to start a conversation. Seems to have worked pretty well for me.

When in doubt, and especially if you are bothered, speak up!

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)