Opinion
Beeper on, cell phone off
LETTER — Posted July 7, 2008
Regarding "Twilight of the beeper: Today's technology offers other ways of keeping connected" (Article, June 9): I couldn't agree more with Harry Steinberg, MD, and others, about the use of the pager.
I still use a pager after 31 years in practice and last month used my cell phone under 50 minutes. Of course I find the cell phone a great convenience, but to me, the pager is more of one. My cell phone often doesn't receive signals inside buildings, and since I rarely keep mine on, there are times when I receive notices of voicemails 10 days later.
Friends, family and anyone I wish can contact me more easily by paging me, and between patients I can return the call. The pager tone is a lot less intrusive than some rock song, or march by John Philip Sousa, and I can shut off the beeping blindfolded.
Who hasn't been in a meeting where a cell phone has interrupted a speaker and then the doctor actually takes the call, making more of a disturbance? We've all had patients' phones ring while trying to examine them.
Another reason for me to use a pager is that a transposition of two numbers of my cell phone is a local motel. I got tired of getting phone calls wishing to make reservations or extend stays, so I just leave it off.
David Lubin, MD, Tampa, Fla.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/07/edlt0707.htm.
