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 Doctors share their frustrations about relying on outdated technology when modern solutions are available.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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The Pager's Call
- Mary Mercer, an ER doctor, describes receiving her first pager in 2007.
- The pager's beep became a Pavlovian call, signifying a need for immediate action, regardless of the task's urgency.
Pagers in Healthcare
- Pagers, once ubiquitous, are now primarily used by doctors.
- Despite the advent of cell phones and other communication methods, hospitals still rely on pagers.
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.