Technology is truly embraced by one of the offices in which I work and I have to say that most of our patients LOVE it. Not only do we have computers galore, 3-D imaging, digital films, and one appointmet crowns, but we are lucky enough to have a wonderful television set available for the comfort and distraction of patients while we work. Some patients don't like the TV on, but many enjoy it!! High in the far right corner of the room is this magical cable box and flat screen television that seems to be equivalent as the musical flute is for the Arabian snakes that lures patients from the spell of dental fear to one of mere distraction. I don’t pay attention to most programs as I am working– I am busy with my head deep in dental cavities, bonding agent, cement, margins, water, and a high speed drill. But while the light is curing the composite and I am forced to look away or there is a moment of quiet, in my peripheral hearing I catch all kinds of bits and pieces of the various television programs.
Sometimes it is the News (CNN, Fox News, Kron 4 - mostly factual and somewhat depressing given the current economic state, violence, traffic or weather), sometimes it is the FOOD network, and above me I can hear the sizzling of some delicious food item that the Barefoot Contessa or Rachel Ray is concocting (my stomach will usually growl in reply)…but today, dear readers, today it was the mentally…stimulating…Jersey Shore replete with Snookie in Italy.
My assistant seemed to be a little distracted by this program in the background – and who wouldn’t have been? It was the patient’s choice of programs…but was it my responsibility to turn it off? I admit to being a little amused and a little shocked that I was listening to this kind of program, but I was also a little admittedly embarrassed that we were listening to this in a dental setting while I am doing a few fillings!!! Are we hip or are we unprofessional? Do we drone out the slew of sexual innuendos, bleeped out expletives, and the almost non-existent clothing in lieu of the blissful distraction and patient enjoyment? Or do we just have a standard and professional albeit somewhat sterile news program that patients can enjoy? Does this kind of program take away from the professionalism and good impression of our office? Or are we catering to the decisions and desires of our own patient television choices? What is right? What is the best conclusion to this predicament?
While I don’t know the answer to this, having the option of a television program for our patients is a wonderful one. I don’t want to take away patient choice, and most people don’t like the smell or the sounds of the dental office. And I know deep in my soul that I have been saved on more than one occasion by Dora the Explorer or Sponge-Bob square pants for our younger patient clientele! But I also know just as surely that I will keep the television channel off a program that has anything to do with Jersey Shore in the dental setting...unless the patient specifically requests it. Sorry Snookie!
But for now, on my TV and dentistry and professionalism question….I guess I am still deciding.
Photo courtesy of: aearizona.com
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