I have actually had a patient take a cell phone call while I was trying to listen to their heart.
I agree with others, texting / social networking /smartphones are associated with people being less courteous.
On the flip size, now we have EMR's and computers in the exam rooms. The patients probably think we are rude by being fixated on the computer rather than the patient, but the payors expect this. I can maintain eye contact while typing but sometimes patients still say "I'll let you finish that and then I'll talk."
