tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621317379873499702.post2850238965084558317..comments2024-01-14T03:48:36.601-05:00Comments on Fauquier ENT Blog: Doctor Distraction Happens... It's Mandatory!Fauquier ENThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18011731559130483399noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621317379873499702.post-71290706778715887912011-12-28T20:52:00.428-05:002011-12-28T20:52:00.428-05:00Dr. Chang, you missed an opportunity here to enlig...Dr. Chang, you missed an opportunity here to enlighten your readers on the actual point of the New York Times piece. <br /><br />While the necessity of filling out those annoying forms may warrant a separate post, I would have been far more interested in your take on the alarming results of the study reported in the Times, at least more than your rather flippant summary: "There is no question that electronic devices distract physicians" along with your dismissal of cellphone usage in the O.R. as merely "a mosquito buzz that comes and goes". <br /><br />Tell that to the partly paralyzed patient cited in the Times piece whose neurosurgeon's phone records confirmed that at least 10 personal calls to his family and business associates took place during this patient's surgery.<br /><br />Or consider the frightening survey results showing that HALF of perfusionists running bypass machines during open heart surgery had admitted texting, calling, browsing the internet or updating their social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter while working on cardiac procedures in the O.R.<br /><br />Interestingly, Dr. Trevor Smith's research published in the journal 'Perfusion' noted a significant age difference between those in the O.R. who considered using one's cellphone for personal calls during open heart surgery inappropriate - and those (younger) respondents who saw nothing wrong with this trend.<br /><br />When you write: "I understand the need for documentation", I'm assuming after reading your post that - based on results - you actually don't.Carolyn Thomashttp://www.myheartsisters.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621317379873499702.post-59855892649210585742011-12-21T08:24:05.779-05:002011-12-21T08:24:05.779-05:00Great article. I love the comment about "a l...Great article. I love the comment about "a leaky faucet when there's a flooded basement and a hole in the roof".<br /><br />One other element of distraction is the insurance companies. I can't remember the time I had a day when I didn't receive a prior authorization form from an insurance company about a medication I prescribed. And it seems like more and more often I am having to argue with insurance companies about why a patient's proposed surgery should be covered. A few weeks ago I tried to get approval for the SMILE technique for one of my patients (I like your video on this btw). I ended up spending more than 2-3 times as long as it takes to do the surgery arguing with Aetna. Did a peer to peer conference call with their "expert", wrote them a 2 page letter with references, and faxed them at least 10 peer reviewed articles dating back 10 years on tongue base reduction in OSA. After all of that, they still rejected it as being "experimental". All of this is a distraction from actual patient care.Brindley75https://www.blogger.com/profile/17957463328195689286noreply@blogger.com