Wired magazine has coined the term “distracted doctoring” to describe physicians who use laptops, smartphones and tablets during surgery. While we all know that the use of devices is not isolated to the OR department, it is still shocking to imagine that this is happening, especially in a so-called sterile environment.
Just about every doctor and nurse in hospitals own a Sharpie at one time or another. Some use them for marking patients and others to label their lunch. It turns out that two different studies on infection risk found that good old fashioned Sharpies out-perform surgical markers in protecting patients from the risk of infection.
It’s hard to believe that in my lifetime I’d ever see layoffs in the nursing field. Like many of you, I remember the good times when there were billboards around my city advertising signing bonuses for nurses at local hospitals. That’s all changing. Two recent articles in the Wall Street Journal (1) (2) and one in the Washington Post are focusing on the fact that, while there is still a nursing shortage, there is now a shortage of nursing jobs. That sounds like a contradiction in terms but it’s not.
Really, I mean that. Tom says that being around so many nurses has taught him one thing (well, two if you count never turn your back on a proctologist). Hospitals are great places to visit loved ones when you’re well, but they’re a horrible place to be when you’re sick. Studies have shown the longer you’re in a hospital recovering, the more likely you are to develop an infection, iatrogenic injury or even die.
*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.
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