Cell phones in the exam room

Annoying for the doctor, especially when a family member is doing a play-by-play:

Some family members have pulled a John Madden on me. When I examine the patient, they give the person on the other end of the line a play-by-play of everything I am doing. “He is listening to her lungs now. He is making a face. Wonder what that means. Oops, probably nothing. He just itched his nose. Now he is listening to her heart. Mom had problems with her heart as a kid, you know. Now he is pressing on her stomach. Ooooh, she just moaned in pain. That had ta’ hurt . . .

Comments

Anonymous
If it is the patient, I politely request that they mute the ringer. If a family member is taking a call, I ask them to leave the room while they are having their conversation.
It is inconsiderate of family members to have a phone conversation while in the room while their family member is being seen, not to mention a distraction for both the patient and the doctor. It is also a breach of expected privacy to have phone conversations in that setting.
Some people need a sobering reminder of expected standards of their behavior.
Anonymous
Isn’t it a HIPPA violation to even have a family member in the room without their express written permission?
Anonymous
“Some people need a sobering reminder of expected standards of their behavior.
# posted by Anonymous : 9:15 AM”
And of course, we all expect certain ‘standards of behavior” from the physicians, don’t we?
Does anyone enjoy abuse by an ignorant MD?
RoseAG
It’d be nice if the Dr. would also turn off his pager and instruct his assistant or nurse NOT to interrupt.
More than once, particularly with a surgeon, I’ve been left half-dressed, while he ducked out to take this or that call.
When the assistant opened the door to get his car keys so she could move his car I felt that maybe I’d made a mistake with the guy.
Anonymous
Come on, 90% of the time those physician interruptions are for very good reasons — considerably different than a family member pulling out the phone to have a chat. I wouldn’t blame any doctor for banning the d–n things in his/her office. Several years ago I pulled into a rest stop and walked into the men’s room. There was a guy in a business suit, talking on his cell while he was using the urinal. Sorry, no call is so urgent that you can’t take time out to pee (or see your doctor).
Anonymous
Cell Phone use disrupts the medical evaluation for the patient and the physician, so we have posted a request that all cell phones be shut-off. Most comply but many don’t…if when I walk into the room, the patient is on the phone, then I depart and go see another patient…I simply can’t let other patients wait while I stand in an exam room and watch somebody talk on his or her phone….if the phone rings while I am in the room trying to conduct business, then I continue to communicate the best I can and if the patient picks it up to read the text message or answer the phone then I move on to the next patient…..if you are expecting a call that urgent, then reschedule your appointment until you can devote five minutes to the matter at hand i.e. you or your loved one’s health.

Cell phones in the exam room

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