Cell Phone Use in Hospitals
My Mother is 93 years old and has spent her share of time in hospitals. My sister, who does not live near by, relies on me for a blow by blow account of what is going on. In all kinds of inclement weather I have had to go outside the hospital to use my cell phone to deliver my report to my sister.
So when I came across this article of a 2007 study on cell phone use in hospitals that appeared in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, I was thrilled. The report showed that the use of cell phones does not interfere with medical equipment in patient care areas of hospitals. The next time you go to a hospital, you might want to take a copy of this study with you so that you can communicate with the outside world!!
The whole idea of not using cell phones in hospitals came about by one(1) alleged event in an emergency Room that “messed” up a heart monitor. Problem was that event could never be repaeted after many, many attempts. But hospital folks jumped on it and posters began showing up. Lately I have seen those posters coming down. Mostly in the ERs. As I work for an EMS agency, cell phone use is part of our operation, and many times we are on the cell phone in the ER talking to out HQs. We have never witnessed an “event” or anyone else I know. We are also on the cell phone talking to the Doctor at the ER in the back of the ambulance very close to our life saving equipment and have never had an event. My opinion, cell phone use in hospitals is safe to use.
Be safe out there !!
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:49 pm