In the intense world of surgery, precision is key. Distractions during this time may lead to serious mistakes.
Medical malpractice can happen in the form of surgical errors, which highlights the difficulties patients face when surgeons choose to pay attention to distractions.
Split-second decisions
From dealing with beeping machines to noises from other people, the operating room is an environment that demands a surgeon’s full attention. Distractions make this load even heavier, pulling a surgeon’s attention away from the important task at hand.
Many decisions surgeons make happen within a span of a few seconds. With so much going on, small mistakes can add up to serious physical pains after surgery.
Communication challenges
Communication is important in a surgical team, but distractions can get in the way. The constant activity in the operating room, coupled with ringing phones and side conversations, can lead to misunderstandings.
Misheard words often change the meaning of a question or instruction. Surgeons and their teams must work through these challenges to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Attitude struggles
Surgeons may underestimate how demanding and stressful the mental part of surgery is, as well as how distractions can contribute to it. This dismissive attitude can lead to medical errors. In order to combat this, they need to create an environment where they will focus on providing the best care possible instead of giving in to distractions.
There were 19.2 million ambulatory surgeries done at community hospitals in America in 2018. Medical mistakes during these surgeries can have serious consequences for patients, including longer recovery times and lasting disabilities.
