patient safety & quality
patient safety & quality
By Kristina Pirollo-Ketchum, BA, AA, CHL, CRCST
The Effects of Cell Phone Use on Professionalism and Quality of Care
The medical director, epidemiologist, infection preventionist, dermatologist and the pharmacist should discuss the treatment. Orders will need to be written by the epidemiologist or the medical director for treatment. Once the orders are written, the pharmacy should let infection prevention know how soon they will have the medication available.”— Dr. Name Here,
MD
Cell phones play a pivotal role in modern life and provide quick connectivity to information and communication. However, it is possible that their mistreatment in the workplace can have adverse consequences in relationships, attentiveness, and trust. In medical and other service-oriented facilities, observable or improper phone usage creates the perception of a distracting and careless attitude. This behavior is perceived as sheer insensitivity by patients, visitors, clients, and colleagues, thus being an adversary to service quality and organizational culture. By using phones in open areas, staff members send unintended messages that personal interests are superior to professional responsibilities( DeJong et al., 2020). Such acts tarnish images and diminish credibility. This paper indicates that cell phones negatively affect the quality of care, the destruction of trust, and the professional image through their inappropriate usage, which results in distraction, privacy issues, and feelings of disconnection.
First, cell phones cause poor interactions since they divert attention. Presence is a component of patient care in healthcare. Fiorinelli et al.( 2021) note that when staff members scroll or type on phones on the move, lining the corridors, or waiting, they appear to be distracted, even though no rule is broken. The patient or a member of the family might feel neglected. One example is, instead of making eye contact with a visitor or greeting him / her, a healthcare provider will stare at the screen and miss the opportunity to provide reassurance. These occurrences create the perception among the patients that the staff does not care or is not paying attention. The deterioration of such simple gestures as greetings and attentive positions makes human interaction less.
Second, inappropriate use of phones influences professionalism and empathy. The introduction of a phone in a workplace is likely to come across as informal and non-medical in some instances. It is an indication that individual business may be conflicting with professional duties. According to Caminiti et al.( 2020), in fields of healthcare, perception is closely connected to trust; a single visible phone can erase hours of good work. Patients might wonder whether or not the information they are provided is confidential or the employee is capturing some unauthorized pictures. Such issues make one anxious and less confident in the organization. Being a professional is not merely about acting according to the policies but about how the actions will be interpreted by others.
Third, the phone use has safety and hygiene issues. Texting during a walk in hallways poses a higher risk of accidents and safety hazards. There
is also a likelihood that the phones will become contaminated with bacteria and viruses as they pass through different environments. Studies have shown that cell phone distraction is directly linked to patient safety risk. Also, employees in the healthcare setting who use phones during work hours have higher medication errors, slower response times, and poor situational awareness, which results in accidents and poor patient outcomes in healthcare settings. Employees can show respect for safety standards and for patients by ensuring that they do not have phones in the public and patient areas.
Cell phones are tools that are convenient but can be harmful to the quality of care and professionalism when misused. They cause distraction and jeopardize privacy and confidence between professionals and individuals whom they serve. Personal use of the phone during breaks or in case of emergency should be restricted to private spaces to keep the quality and save the respect for patients and families.
Attentive listening sends a sense of professionalism, compassion, and dedication to quality service.
References
Caminiti, C., Deng, L., Greenberg, P., Scolpino, A., Chen, C., Yang, E., & Oleske, J. M.( 2020). The Impact and Perception of Cell Phone Usage in a Teaching Hospital Setting. Journal of Patient Experience, 7( 6), 1627 – 1633. https:// doi. org / 10.1177 / 2374373519892416
DeJong, A., Donelle, L., & Kerr, M.( 2020). Nurses’ use of personal smartphone technology in the workplace: a scoping review. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 8( 11). https:// doi. org / 10.2196 / 18774
Fiorinelli, M., Di Mario, S., Surace, A., Mattei, M., Russo, C., Villa, G., Dionisi, S., Giannetta, N., Di Simone, E., & Di Muzio, M.( 2021). Smartphone distraction during nursing care: systematic literature review. Applied Nursing Research, 58( 58), 151405. https:// doi. org / 10.1016 / j. apnr. 2021.151405
32 • www. healthcarehygienemagazine. com • nov-dec 2025