Technology in the ER - Do Smartphones Hurt Care?

Honest question: are you fiddling on your smartphone phone/ phone at work? Texting in the corner? Checking out the news or Facebook? Facebook on a computer anywhere?

The advent of cheap data and smartphones with snazzy bells and whistles means you can easily get lost in something more interesting than boring patients. OK, maybe it's obvious most of us aren't so flippant when it comes to our jobs, but is it an important issue to address? Do you notice a drop in patient care, or overall care, with added distractions?

Does your unit/place of work have criteria in place to prevent the use of personal electronic devices while on duty?

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