We have all heard of distracted driving, and these days we usually think of the distraction being the cellular phone, whether one is talking, dialing, or texting. We have all seen vehicles swerving across traffic lanes, or simply driving ten or fifteen miles under the speed limit, while the drivers are busily engaged on their cell phones. If we are honest, most of us will have to admit that we ourselves have been that "distracted driver." But the driver distracted by his or her cell phone is old news, even though that road hazard still permeates our streets and highways. But there is another use of the cell phone, maybe less dangerous, but still very annoying to this blogger. That is the use of cell phones in the Emergency Room, both by patients and their "next of kin."
Several times on each tour of duty I observe vehicles drive into the Emergency Drop-Off lane at nerve-wracking speeds, then screeching to a halt in front of the hospital as if someone in the car were having a heart attack or having a baby right there in the front seat! But then a strange thing happens...Nothing. Sometimes no one gets out of the vehicle, sometimes driver and/or passengers get out of the car. If people get out of the car, they walk to the front passenger door (usually, sometimes a back door) and open the door. The person still seated in the vehicle, presumably either sick or injured, makes no effort to get out of the vehicle at first. Believe it or not, the "emergency patient" sits in the car for another five or ten minutes, talking to first one person, then making another call and talking to someone else. I can only hope at least one of the calls is to a qualified medical authority. Finally, after all the calls are done, the patient gets out of the car and casually strolls into the Emergency Room, his or her concerned relatives still acting as if the person's demise were imminent. When the "sick" person finally ambles to the Triage Desk, he or she is usually already engaged in yet another conversation, hardly able to pull the phone away from his or her cheek long enough to answer the admission tech's questions.
On other occasions, again several times each shift, I see the situation unfold nearly exactly as described above, except in this scenario it is the patient's relative or friend who just CANNOT put down that cell phone. A vehicle roars into the driveway, the patient throws his or her door open, but then the driver or other person who is "helping" the patient tries to do it all with ONE hand, as if the world might end if the conversation were interrupted. Sometimes the person in this situation attempts to push a transport chair with one hand, and then to assist a truly sick or injured person to wheelchair, again without dropping the telephone.
Finally, the last use of the cell phone, computer, tablet, or other device that not only irritates me, but contributes to general confusion at the Emergency Room, is when parents or others in charge of young children cannot finish that call, conclude their texting, or pull themselves away from their video games long enough to care for their children. An Emergency Room is a busy place. When children are allowed to run around the waiting room, free of any supervision, the Emergency Room becomes a nightmare for the medical and administrative staff, security personnel, and for the patients and visitors. Almost every shift sees this situation arise one or more times. This may just be the irritation talking, but it seems like the disturbance the unattended children create is proportionate to the degree they are ignored by the "parents." It is unfortunate that parents feel that it is more important to nurture their cell phones and other devices than it is to nurture and supervise their children.
I cannot say that this post is anything other than my rant, and therefore I appreciate very much your indulgence in letting me "vent." But I hope, too, that if you ever find yourself in a situation in which you bring someone to your local Emergency Room, or maybe you are the patient, you do not let the telephone interfere with getting into the Emergency Room quickly and efficiently. And especially if you have children, I hope you will not let the phone interfere with your responsibility as a parent.
Once again, thanks for letting me vent.
Several times on each tour of duty I observe vehicles drive into the Emergency Drop-Off lane at nerve-wracking speeds, then screeching to a halt in front of the hospital as if someone in the car were having a heart attack or having a baby right there in the front seat! But then a strange thing happens...Nothing. Sometimes no one gets out of the vehicle, sometimes driver and/or passengers get out of the car. If people get out of the car, they walk to the front passenger door (usually, sometimes a back door) and open the door. The person still seated in the vehicle, presumably either sick or injured, makes no effort to get out of the vehicle at first. Believe it or not, the "emergency patient" sits in the car for another five or ten minutes, talking to first one person, then making another call and talking to someone else. I can only hope at least one of the calls is to a qualified medical authority. Finally, after all the calls are done, the patient gets out of the car and casually strolls into the Emergency Room, his or her concerned relatives still acting as if the person's demise were imminent. When the "sick" person finally ambles to the Triage Desk, he or she is usually already engaged in yet another conversation, hardly able to pull the phone away from his or her cheek long enough to answer the admission tech's questions.
On other occasions, again several times each shift, I see the situation unfold nearly exactly as described above, except in this scenario it is the patient's relative or friend who just CANNOT put down that cell phone. A vehicle roars into the driveway, the patient throws his or her door open, but then the driver or other person who is "helping" the patient tries to do it all with ONE hand, as if the world might end if the conversation were interrupted. Sometimes the person in this situation attempts to push a transport chair with one hand, and then to assist a truly sick or injured person to wheelchair, again without dropping the telephone.
Finally, the last use of the cell phone, computer, tablet, or other device that not only irritates me, but contributes to general confusion at the Emergency Room, is when parents or others in charge of young children cannot finish that call, conclude their texting, or pull themselves away from their video games long enough to care for their children. An Emergency Room is a busy place. When children are allowed to run around the waiting room, free of any supervision, the Emergency Room becomes a nightmare for the medical and administrative staff, security personnel, and for the patients and visitors. Almost every shift sees this situation arise one or more times. This may just be the irritation talking, but it seems like the disturbance the unattended children create is proportionate to the degree they are ignored by the "parents." It is unfortunate that parents feel that it is more important to nurture their cell phones and other devices than it is to nurture and supervise their children.
I cannot say that this post is anything other than my rant, and therefore I appreciate very much your indulgence in letting me "vent." But I hope, too, that if you ever find yourself in a situation in which you bring someone to your local Emergency Room, or maybe you are the patient, you do not let the telephone interfere with getting into the Emergency Room quickly and efficiently. And especially if you have children, I hope you will not let the phone interfere with your responsibility as a parent.
Once again, thanks for letting me vent.
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