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Cell Phones Get the OK in Hospitals
The change is coming in response to a five-month study published by the Mayo Clinic that showed no noticeable interference from cell phones with medical equipment. Still, some are taking precautions, including one that might seem counterintuitive at first -- the installation of a cell phone antenna inside the hospital.
When a cell phone has trouble locking onto a signal -- like when it's inside the thick concrete walls of a medical facility -- the phone boosts its signal output. Placing an antenna inside those walls makes a signal easier to lock on to, and lessens the output from the cell phone, reducing the risk of interference with sensitive medical equipment.
Unlike in airplanes where letting passengers use their cell phones is likely to cause little more than an overpriced annoyance, at a hospital the ease of communication is likely to be a boon not just for friends and family of those being taken care of, but also for medical staff for whom this should make communication easier and faster. And faster, easier communication can help save lives when medical emergencies arise.
Of course, this is bound to be abused. Imagine gathering around an injured or sickened loved one and having to listen to a relative of the person you're sharing the room with yapping about the horrible date she had last night. This is going to get ugly ...
From USA Today
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Comments
4
Subscribe to commentsMR.BOSS STATUSSep 6th 2007 7:30PM
BOUT TIME THEY BEEN KNEW CELL PHONES NEVER AFFECTED THE HOSPITAL OR AIRPLANES!! PLUS THE MYTHBUSTERS BEEN PUT THAT MYTH TO BED!!
marilyn gSep 5th 2007 8:02PM
I have worked in a hospital for many years now and the use of cellphones has increased dramatically both for patients and for family members. We use a in-hospital wireless phone system and the use of private cellphones on work-time is forbidden by the staff. This was mainly due to staff getting phonecalls when they were in the patient rooms.
However I do not support the use of cellphones in certain areas of the hospital such as the ICU and this gets family members upset when we ask them to make sure their phones are turned off before entering these areas. The cell phones have the habit of turning off ventilators. Yep, breathing machines or life support whichever you call them. Personally I have had 2 instances where a family member received a call in a room and the ventilator of the patient I was taking care of turned OFF at the same time they received the call. And the second time was with a doctor receiving a phone call and the machine turned itself off at the time of the call.this is not the first time, not even the only 2 instances that has happened. When we take care of the situation and change out the machines, the machines are thoroughly looked over and examined by the repair personnel and there hasnt been a time where they found anything wrong mechanically or with software in the machine that would have caused it to turn off. Once may have been coincidence, 2x personally and 3 other times that i know of for sure make me to tell everyone DO NOT COME INTO THE ICU WITH THE CELLPHONE TURNED ON!
DenmSep 6th 2007 6:18AM
cell phones in hospitals --- a very bad and inconsiderate thing to do
jennSep 6th 2007 11:57AM
I am currently doing a documentary on cell phones and their possible link to diseases such as brain tumors. I need people to talk to on camera however. If anyone out there has a tumor and thinks it's related to their cell phone I'd love to speak with you. Or anything related to this subject matter. If you have a way I can contact you that would be great. Thanks.