Finding Balance in a Digital World

John La Puma, MD, a physician in Santa Barbara, California, is concerned about how much doctors are using technology and, to provide perspective, he recently organized an event at a local regenerative organic farm with the express goal of giving doctors at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, California, a respite from technology — and maybe even boost their brains in the process.

However, doctors say that they try to be self-disciplined about screen time and report spending, on average, 3.6 hours per day on their cell phones, laptops, or TV, which turns out to be 46% less than most users who spend an average of 6 hours online, according to DataReportal, a digital reference library.

“I’m trying to get clinicians to migrate outside and off their screens,” said La Puma. “Too many of my colleagues rely solely on devices for recall and we’ve found that the greatest impediment of memory is electronic distraction — alarms, notifications, to-do lists, and scrolling email while watching Netflix.”

Screen Time at Work

No matter their specialty, every doctor faces extreme screen use at work.

“From the moment I start my shift, I’m toggling between patient charts, reviewing imaging scans and responding to messages,” said Mario Padron, MD, a physician in Miami. “Screen time is an inescapable part of the life of a doctor.”

The charting challenge tracks with a study published in 2020 that found that doctors spent 16 minutes (on average) per patient encounter on electronic health record (EHR) documentation. In addition, EHRs demand constant attention.

“Last year, we implemented a new EHR system, that was supposed to streamline our work,” said Ingrid Yang, a hospital-based physician in San Diego, adding that she now spends 8+ hours on screens every day. “The EHR also comes loaded with ‘extra features’ and a mountain of unnecessary data, forcing me to sift through layers of information just to get to the heart of my patients’ illnesses.”

Over the course of 1 day, Rupa Wong, MD, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Hawaii, said she can end up spending 10+ hours on a myriad of screens.

“I’m on my iPad constantly for charting during clinic hours and after clinic to research and create educational digital content,” she said. “And then there’s the emails I need to respond to that come my way as I serve on three nonprofit boards.”

For Sean Ormond, MD, a pain management physician in Phoenix, screen use is also a key device he relies on for patient interactions.

“I use screens to educate patients, showing them visuals to explain conditions or procedures,” said Ormond, who says he easily spends 4-6 hours a day on screens; “I also attend virtual conferences or webinars to stay up to date on the latest pain treatments.”

There’s no escaping technology, Padron agreed.

“Gone are the days when a quick handwritten note sufficed,” he said. “Now, every detail needs to be typed, coded, and cross-referenced.”

With this much intense screen time, Yang said she’s wiped out at the end of each shift.

“By the end of the day, my eyes are fatigued, and my spirit is drained,” she said. “Instead of experiencing the fulfillment that comes from genuine human connection, I’m left feeling like I’m navigating a sterile, digital labyrinth, a far cry from the rewarding practice of medicine that I once knew.”

Screen Use at Home

Bringing work home is nothing new for doctors but, with the addition of technology, this means more screen time — done perhaps from a comfortable chair at home but it’s work, nonetheless.

“Much like most physicians, I tend to carry work home with me,” said Andrew Parker, MD, an endocrinologist in San Francisco.“Addressing patient messages after hours, responding to urgent consultations, and completing documentation often leads to another 1-2 hours of screen time in the evenings. The never-ending barrage of notifications and the need to physically type something has made relaxing much more complicated.”

As an eye doctor,Wong, the mom of three kids, worries about screen time for herself and her kids due to the exposure to blue light late at night.

“Exposure to blue light late at night with the resulting dysregulation of my circadian clock, worsening dry eyes, eye fatigue, and even migraines are all reasons I try to limit my own personal screen time,” she said. “And, of course, as a pediatric ophthalmologist, I want to model behavior for my kids regarding screen use. As such, it’s imperative to limit recreational screen time for my kids and I try not to be on my phone in front of my children, even if it’s for work purposes.”

There are ways to reduce tech time, said Don Beasley, MD, an otolaryngologist in Boise, Idaho, who said he does his best tofocus on reducing screen time when he’s away from work.

“I turn to activities like having real conversations, being outdoors, or diving into my hobbies,” he said. “Cutting back is important as too much screen time can really wear you out.” And, while Beasley knows technology is essential in modern medicine, he’s learned to try to keep things in check.

“It’s important to keep burnout at a distance,” he said. “I always tell my colleagues to monitor their screen time and unplug when they can. It makes a world of difference.”

Ultimately, for Padron, having a healthy relationship with technology in the off hours remains a challenge.

“Outside of work, I try to escape the screens, but they have a way of creeping into my personal life,” he said. “It’s hard to resist the urge to check the latest medical journals or skim through case studies in an attempt to stay ahead.” He has, however, made some important changes to cut back.

“I’ve stopped checking email first thing in the morning, and I set limits on how much time I spend scrolling through articles at night,” he said. “But the reality is, medicine and screens are deeply intertwined, and completely unplugging isn’t an option. The best I can do is be mindful in choosing when to engage with technology and when to step away before it consumes too much of the life I’m trying to live.”

Lambeth Hochwald is a New York City–based journalist who covers health, relationships, trends, and issues of importance to women. She’s also a longtime professor at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.