mobile phones and hospitals

[tiij]

Is there any evidence to suggest mobile phones do mess with hosptial equipment, or is it just a crok?

i havent found any evidence!!

[bill4745, RN]

I would think that by now, we would have noticed if cellphones shut down monitors, changed the rate on IV pumps, etc. It may have happened in the old 'analog' days, but many hospitals now allow cellphones anywhere.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I don't know about moniters, in our hospital they say it interferes with telemetry, but we're consistent with the policy even when no one is on tele.

Bored people with cell phones call all their friends and neighbor, and then all their friends and neighbors call back and want to talk, or they show up and want to be a part of the ER drama. Sucks.

[CVICURN2003]

People take pictures of people with their cell phones. A vented, sedated, sick patient cannot consent to have their picture taken. No cell phones in our ICU if we can help it. Not supposed to in our hospital, but people do.

[reesern63, RN]

Actually, the one hospital where I worked banned them because of camera and video functions. They were concerned about HIPAA violations.

[purple_rose_3]

They "sometimes" interfere with our tele monitors, but not always.

[GregRN]

This question comes up a lot. I always point to this article from the Mayo Clinic. In their studies, cell phone technology has improved to the point that interference is LESS than it was years ago, but it still does interfere. According to the article, beyond three feet from monitoring equipment, there was ZERO interference. Even within three feet the interference was minimal. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2005-rst/3062.html

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

I think that its the health professions best kept secret that mobile phones no longer interfere with equipment. It is a great excuse to keep patients, friends and relatives off thier phones. There is nothing worse than lying on a hospital trolley, feeling as sick as a dog and some idiot next to you is talking into their phone, at the top of their voice about Aunt Sally and her giant hemorroids. Can you imagine what it would be like if every one was sitting there yaking all day? No thanks, I say keep up the pretence!

[brissie]

Our hospital supervisor walks around glued to a cellphone. MD's carry and use them in our units. I haven't seen any problems at all and all our patients are monitored.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I was under the impression that the only equipment that mobile phones really interfer with is the Fetal Heart monitor.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

cell phones used to mess with certain equipment but I believe that is no longer true. Cameras are a no-no. Cell phones around the radiology dept might not work due to lead in the walls.

[servant2]

Is there any evidence to suggest mobile phones do mess with hosptial equipment, or is it just a crok?

i havent found any evidence!!

A family member was in ICU and the hospital in Mpls MN recently and the ICU had big signs to turn off cellphones.

My understanding is that the newer phones don't interfere with electronic equipment but my Go Phone, when I laid it on the side table of our hotel room to be charged, produced a nasty crackling in the clock radio until I moved the phone to a lower shelf of the table.

I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for making someone's heart monitor go haywire.

Last year, a friend of mine had a pacemaker implanted and had instructions to avoid certain things. One was a public phone booth call. She was in an airport and needed to call someone (no cell phone) and hopped into the booth to do her calling. Her pacemaker went haywire and they had to call for assistance for her. She's OK after they corrected the damage and readjusted her pacemaker.

I agree with the privacy comments, some people don't have any sense and others are just plain wicked to take advantage of someone in the hospital like that.

servant2