Re: What NOT to bring to the hospital

[Guest guest]

I, too, feel uncomfortable with the cell phone suggestion, ,

even after doing a bit of research and finding the following:

(1)http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/cell_phones_hospitals.html

" Brits OK Cell Phones in Hospitals "

(2)http://www.starhq.com/html/Progress2004/Health/Technology.html

" New technology enables hospitals to lift ban on cell phones in

facilities "

(3) http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q3730.html

This " Ask the Experts " Q & A page from the Web site of a group called

the Health Physics Society is so interesting, I can't resist pasting

part of the Q and all of the A here:

Q: ... there has been research done to show that a cell phone that is

within very close proximity to medical devices can cause

interference. The Federal Communications Commission has advised that

the makers of these medical devices shield the equipment from such

interference. Is there any new research to show that cell phones can

be used inside a hospital? We all see many people wandering the

hospitals, including doctors, using their cell phones.

A: The issue of banning mobile phone use in hospitals is a subject of

some controversy. For a snapshot of the controversy it is useful to

look at an article that was published in March 2003 in the British

Medical Journal (BMJ 326:460, March 2003). The authors

concluded: " Mobile phones in hospitals are not as hazardous as

believed and should be allowed at least in nonclinical areas. "

At least as interesting as the article itself are the online

responses to the article. This is what we know:

1. Mobile phones can interfere with medical equipment.

2. The interference is relatively rare and generally goes away when

the phone is turned off or moved away.

3. There appear to be no confirmed reports of life-threatening

interference.

4. The two-way radios used by emergency-service personnel and

hospital transport aides (porters) are a bigger source of

interference than consumer mobile phones.

5. Other sources of radiofrequency (RF) radiation (for example,

digital TV broadcasts and other medical equipment) have also caused

interference with medical devices.

6. Many (most?) hospitals ban mobile phones, but the basis for their

bans are generally vague, and the bans are often very poorly enforced

on visitors or on staff.

I am unaware of any general governmental bans on the use of mobile

phones in hospitals. In the United States, this would fall under the

jurisdiction of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the

Food and Drug Adminstration and to date the Food and Drug

Administration has not taken a position on the subject.

The bottom line is that interference with medical equipment by

devices that produce RF radiation is an issue for hospitals and

medical-equipment makers, but the source of the problem is not

limited to mobile phones.

Moulder, PhD

I never cease to be amazed!

Sondra

>

> CAUTION, PLEASE! --

>

> Admittedly I am always a few eons behind the explosion of high-tech

> innovations and conveniences these days.

>

> So, advance apologies if I am all wet on this point, but: I think

> someone suggested bringing a cell phone to the hospital?

>

> The last I heard, cell phones were strictly forbidden in hospitals

> because of the potential for interference with other crucial and

life-

> sustaining equipment.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Cell phones are usually not allowed in the ER or in places marked no cell phones

(usually Cardiac Care) but if the charge nurse doesn't have a problem with it,

most patient rooms allow cells!

What NOT to bring to the hospital

CAUTION, PLEASE! --

Admittedly I am always a few eons behind the explosion of high-tech

innovations and conveniences these days.

So, advance apologies if I am all wet on this point, but: I think

someone suggested bringing a cell phone to the hospital?

The last I heard, cell phones were strictly forbidden in hospitals

because of the potential for interference with other crucial and life-

sustaining equipment.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Wow. (Duh.)

Hope there's no next time for me, but if there is, I guess I will

have to consider bringing my cell phone.

Taking it to the labor room does seem like a little much, but that's

probably because I am kind of old. For all I know, people are into

intraoperative text messaging these days.

I did enjoy having my laptop in one hospital -- that was the winter I

was firing off posts to " Feisty " from a recumbent and probably highly

disgruntled position -- although some folks thought I was daft to

risk having it stolen. Also, the hospital cable TV was passable --

and I'd love to hang the tube from my living room ceiling in the same

fashion, very space-saving -- but I kind of missed having the old DVD

player handy.

Back at Walter , where I spent the summer of my 13th year

immobilized in a Risser jacket, they used to bring in a projector and

screen and show us all kinds of obscure but enjoyable movies. I seem

to recall that the Women's Orthopedic Ward even hosted a magician or

two that l-o-o-n-g summer of '62. I lived for evening visits from my

glamorous working-woman cousin in town (a former Radcliffe

Russian major with a career in the NSA), who brought me carloads of

paperback classics, Agatha Christie mysteries, and " sophisticated

grown-up " bouquets, colognes, etc. Not to sound too insufferably

Proustian, but I can not smell anything close to Yardley red-roses,

even now, without finding myself awash in a wave of bittersweet

memories, from the feel of fresh hot plaster being ladled onto my

torso to the substantial weight of those funny prism-glasses parked

atop my minuscule nose.

I'd love to know whether Army hospitals still house everyone of the

same gender in one huge sociable room. I met some of the greatest

feisty girls and women from every country and walk of life. We

laughed together over the indecipherable choices on the

day's " selective menu " -- " Bu fr cut gr beans " was a favorite. A 16

year-old wife with bone cancer gave me my first tutorial pep talks on

such subjects as " Handling a boy who gets fresh. " A crusty WAC

sergeant in a wheel chair -- once I was more mobile myself -- whisked

me off to the sunroom, where she discreetly taught me how to light

and inhale a mentholated cigarette from her endless supply of

Salems.

E.

> Cell phones are usually not allowed in the ER or in places marked

no cell phones (usually Cardiac Care) but if the charge nurse doesn't

have a problem with it, most patient rooms allow cells!

> What NOT to bring to the hospital

>

>

>

> CAUTION, PLEASE! --

>

> Admittedly I am always a few eons behind the explosion of high-

tech

> innovations and conveniences these days.

>

> So, advance apologies if I am all wet on this point, but: I think

> someone suggested bringing a cell phone to the hospital?

>

> The last I heard, cell phones were strictly forbidden in

hospitals

> because of the potential for interference with other crucial and

life-

> sustaining equipment.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads

or endorse any advertised products.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sondra,

I found this fascinating. Many thanks for your excellent research and

the informative excerpts.

> >

> > CAUTION, PLEASE! --

> >

> > Admittedly I am always a few eons behind the explosion of high-

tech

> > innovations and conveniences these days.

> >

> > So, advance apologies if I am all wet on this point, but: I think

> > someone suggested bringing a cell phone to the hospital?

> >

> > The last I heard, cell phones were strictly forbidden in

hospitals

> > because of the potential for interference with other crucial and

> life-

> > sustaining equipment.

> >

> >