The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) applauds the Washington Post for dialing up the pros and cons of cell phone use by healthcare providers in the operating room.
The 48,000-member AANA supports the use of mobile devices, such as cell phones, but only in a manner that maintains vigilance and enhances patient care. The association's Mobile Information Technology position statement, updated in 2015 to keep pace with mobile technology advancements, states that "Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) have an ethical responsibility to provide safe patient care by avoiding non-essential distractions while caring for a patient. Non-essential distractions, especially those associated with use of mobile information technology, may lead to significant patient safety lapses." The position statement further discusses the effect of distractions and interruptions in the operating room when using mobile devices.
However, the statement also addresses how this technology can improve patient care and provider communication if integrated in a meaningful way. The AANA encourages CRNAs to maintain vigilance, patient safety, patient privacy, and infection control while using mobile information technology, and to participate in the development of facility policies regarding its appropriate use in the delivery of patient care and for provider interaction.
Mobile information technology will continue to advance and provide numerous advantages to clinicians in the delivery of patient care. The AANA supports integration of this technology and encourages CRNAs to embrace it in their clinical practice while minimizing interruptions and distractions that could potentially affect patient safety.
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