Cell phone etiquette in the clinical arena: A professionalism imperative for healthcare

Cell phones have become a routine part of daily life in the United States; 97.1% of faculty, residents, and medical students carry their personal cell phone with them at work. Concerns about professionalism and potentially inappropriate use of mobile technology have emerged, and challenges to professionalism that are associated with the use of mobile devices in the clinical setting are evolving as technology advances. These issues should be directly addressed by the medical profession. Concerns include questions of privacy/confidentiality, microbial transmission from contact with mobile devices, maintenance of personal/professional boundaries when physicians and patients use mobile devices to communicate, appropriate communication among colleagues, and prioritization of patient care over personal matters.