Some Hospitals Not Just Encouraging Mobile Phone Usage, But Installing Technology To Make It Easier
from the well-that's-nice dept
Remember how hospitals were banning mobile phones out of a fear that the signal would interfere with medical equipment? That turned out to not be much of a problem and soon doctors from around the world were clamoring for the right to use their own mobile phones. A recent study even found tremendous benefits in allowing mobile phone usage in hospitals, including better communication among staff members and lower error rates, thanks to that improved communication. The latest is that some hospitals aren't just allowing mobile phone usage, they're making it possible by installing local antennas to make it even easier for mobile phones to work. The hospitals point out that this is likely to lower the likelihood of interference, as the mobile phones don't have to broadcast as strong a signal if the "tower" is so close. Then, of course, there's the benefit of having happier patients who can more easily stay in touch with friends and family (and also making it easier for those friends and family members to visit). All in all it seems to make a lot of sense, though there are still some holdouts among hospitals that don't feel there's enough evidence to allow mobile phones into hospitals just yet.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: antennas, hospitals, interference, mobile phones
Reader Comments
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Well...
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Cost to the hospital
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patient line
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HOSPITALS HAVE LIED ALL THIS TIME////BECAUSE OF RU
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Re: HOSPITALS HAVE LIED ALL THIS TIME////BECAUSE O
It's pretty hard to take your comments seriously when you lead off with an obviously ridiculous comment like the one above. For starters, the last 12 pages of the bible (at least my bible) is only about 6" x 8" x .002", whereas I am much larger than that. Not to mention that there are no toilets in the last 12 pages of the bible, which I find myself using several times a day. Ergo, we must not be living in the last 12 pages of the bible.
But back to the article, I've heard all sorts of reasons why hospitals have banned cell phones. Some have blamed it on the possibility of interference with medical equipment (not likely). Other hospitals have claimed that that it could interfere with communications systems that they have installed (really not likely). But I think that a lot of it does come down to the fact that hospitals are supposed to be a place of recuperation, and having some degree of peace and quiet is much more conducive to healing than hearing 73 cell phones ringing at the same time while some jerk is yelling into the handset.
At the hospital that I worked at (until recently), we allowed cellphones pretty much facility wide. There were some surgeons who actually would be in the middle of a surgical case and talking on the phone via their bluetooth headset. We used Nextel phones and the direct-connect all of the time to communicate between different departments when coordination was needed.
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Re: Re: HOSPITALS HAVE LIED ALL THIS TIME////BECAU
god's bible is significantly larger and more awesome than yours. so great is it's largosity and aweseomity that we will be able to live forever in complete comfort using just the last 12 pages.
god's bible can clearly beat up your bible.
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Cell Phones
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Re: Re: Re: HOSPITALS HAVE LIED ALL THIS TIME////B
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Experience
I don't think it caused any harm, but it really did interfear with the equipment. This has been a while back, so my guess is they have shielded the equipment better since then.
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Wireless internet next?
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Wireless Internet
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I agree...but...
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2007/09/06/gupta.cell.phone.hospital.cnn
All I know is that many of the best, most high-tech hospitals in the US are distributing phones (both CDMA and GSM) to their medical staff, so I don't see how this is a significant, widespread problem (wouldn't all these docs have noticed something odd by now?).
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CNN thinks not
lmao. Just as you post this. CNN has their own take I guess.
Turn that cell phone off!
A study indicates that cell phones can interfere with vital hospital equipment. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more.
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Actual Facts versus Fiction
Lets get to the facts. There are no enforced standards on what devices are interfering and at what levels in the US.
Lets look at the studys that have been done. They have all taken the frequency that the cell phone emits at and increased its power and capacity and decreased its normal distance to any device to see if it causes any problem. In those circumstances there has been unconclusive evidence that some interference may exist.
Now lets talk about what the article was directed toward. Companies like Cell Antenna are incredibally helpful as they allow the actual signal strength of the cell phone to be minimized. By putting repeaters in the facility you allow the cell phone to use minimal power to transmit. When there is no such service your cell phone uses more power to attempt to transmit.
The truth is this, It is a organization by organization policy. There may be many reasons why a hospital chooses not to allow cell phones. However, lets be honest, it is easier to use interference as a reson than to say "don't use it because it is rude".
In our organization we not only use cell phones but also allow our patients and thier family to use our public Wi-Fi. What needs to be realligned in any organization is how they are using technology. Are they using it for better patient care? That is the goal of any healthcare organization.
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Re:
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From the trenches
Dealing with radio interference is an ongoing challenge, as more medical equipment and more wireless devices come into hospitals, the challenge evolves. Part of the reason there is no national guidance on cell phones, etc. is that by the time the guidance is issued, it would be outdated.
There a fair bit of information published, based on established standards and practical experience that helps hospitals manage their own wireless environment. In particular, ECRI Institute, regarded as the most objective source in the industry, has published numerous guidelines.
More is needed.
Hospitals are struggling with this issue primarily because almost no one in the hospital understands how wireless signals work. The ONLY ones in the hospital that have a chance are those that repair the medical equipment, and very few of those. Only those with a background in radio design, repair or detailed use (usually military or ham), really understand the challenges.
Cell phones and other radios have interfered with medical equipment. That risk will always exist; the physics involved guarantee it. Medical equipment can't be immunized against EMI - even if it could, no hospital could afford it. The challenge is to balance the risk against the benefits.
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Hospital Cell Phones and Repeaters
That is why companies like ours, Cellantenna corporation, have a thriving business in installing repeaters in hospitals to reduce the overall level of energy of cell phones. We also at the same time enhance Wi-Fi and pagers.
Thanks
Howard Melamed
Cellantenna.com
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end of conversation
:|
still have no idea how she is, what stage of labour shes in.. etc
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2 distinct situations....
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