Planet Money Why do doctors still use pagers?
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Dec 8, 2023 Pagers are still surprisingly common in hospitals, despite their clunky nature. Doctors share their frustrations about relying on outdated technology when modern solutions are available. One engaging story follows two doctors trying to eliminate pagers, revealing unexpected lessons about resistance to change. The podcast also explores the cultural significance of pagers in medical environments and the communication challenges introduced by new technologies. It highlights how shifting from pagers to texting could improve patient care while complicating communication dynamics.
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Challenging the Pager
- Mary Mercer questioned the continued use of pagers in her San Francisco ER.
- She initiated a project to improve ER efficiency, targeting pagers as a key inefficiency.
Paging Specialists
- In San Francisco, Mary Mercer frequently consulted specialists for various ER cases.
- The primary communication method was paging, which lacked context and confirmation of receipt.
Texting vs. Paging
- Mary and Toph proposed using secure texting apps, similar to WhatsApp, for doctors.
- They acknowledged pagers' reliability and cost-effectiveness but championed texting's advantages.