Perceived vs. actual distractions in the emergency department.

Introduction: The emergency department (ED) has been shown to be an interrupt-driven workplace fraught with potential for distractions and interruptions that increase the potential for medical error. Accuracy of provider perception of these distractions and interruptions has yet to be investigated.

Methods: An observational two-phase study was conducted over a 9-week period in the highest acuity zone of the ED at an urban, academic medical center with about 90,000 visits/year.