American College of Surgeons
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[ST-59] Statement on use of cell phones in the operating room

[by the American College of Surgeons]

This statement was developed by the College’s Committee on Perioperative Care and approved by the Board of Regents at its June 2008 meeting.

Cellular telephone technology has become ubiquitous. Whether for voice or for data, many surgeons have come to rely on cellular devices for communication outside the office. Nevertheless, the casual use of cellular devices in the operating room (OR) may be distracting. For these reasons, the use of cellular devices in the OR should be guided by the following considerations:

  1. The undisciplined use of cellular devices in the OR—whether for telephone, e-mail, or data communication, and whether by the surgeon or by other members of the surgical team—may pose a distraction and may compromise patient care.
  2. Surgeons should be considerate of the duties of personnel in the OR suite and refrain from engaging them unnecessarily in activities, including assistance in cellular communication, that might divert attention from the patient or the conduct of the procedure.
  3. Cellular phones must not interfere with patient monitoring devices or with other technologies required for patient care.
  4. Whenever possible, members of the OR team, including the operating surgeon, should only engage in urgent or emergent outside communication during surgery. Personal and routine calls should be minimized. Calls should be kept as brief as possible.
  5. Whenever possible, incoming calls should be forwarded to the OR desk or to the hardwired telephone in the OR to minimize the potential distraction of cellular phones.
  6. Whenever possible, cellular telephone calls and data transmissions should be forwarded to voice mail or to memory. The ring tone should be silenced. An inaudible signal may be employed.
  7. Whenever possible, a distinct signal for urgent or emergent calls should be enabled. This signal may be implemented via a “page” option in most cellular telephones. Callers should be advised to use this function only for urgent and emergent calls if the phone is unanswered.
  8. The use of cellular devices or their accessories (such as earphones or keyboards) must not compromise the integrity of the sterile field. Special care should be taken to avoid sensitive communication within the hearing of awake or sedated patients.
  9. Communication using hardwired phones in the operating room is subject to the same discipline as communication using cellular technology.
  10. The use of cellular devices to take and transmit photographs should be governed by hospital policy on photography of patients and by government regulations pertaining to patient privacy and confidentiality.

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Reprinted from Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons
Vol.93, No. 9, September 2008

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