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| Thread ID: 98110 | 2009-03-11 18:33:00 | Use of cell phones in public hospitals | R.M. (561) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 755638 | 2009-03-13 06:12:00 | I got a MAYO-Clinic Report on just this "situation" . Cellular phones have no negative impact on hospital medical devices, dispelling the long-held notion that they are unsafe to use in health care facilities, according to Mayo Clinic researchers . In a study published in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers say normal use of cell phones results in no noticeable interference with patient care equipment . Three hundred tests were performed over a five-month period in 2006, without a single problem incurred . Involved in the study were two cellular phones which used different technologies from different carriers and 192 medical devices . Tests were performed at Mayo Clinic campus in Rochester . The study's authors say the findings should prompt hospitals to alter or abandon their bans on cell phone use . Mayo Clinic leaders are reviewing the facility's cell phone ban because of the study's findings, says David Hayes, M . D . , of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and a study author . Cell phone bans inconvenience patients and their families who must exit hospitals to place calls, the study's authors say . The latest study revisits two earlier studies that were done 'in vitro' (i . e . , the equipment wasn't connected to the patients), which also found minimal interaction from cell phones used in health care facilities . Dr . Hayes says the latest study bolsters the notion that cells phones are safe to use in hospitals . Other Technology-Related Proceedings Articles Explore Concerns for Patients Two other pieces in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings also address whether technological devices interfere with patient care equipment . Unlike the cellular phone study, the other reports detail technological devices that caused patient care equipment to malfunction . A letter to the editor published in the journal details the first known case of a portable CD player causing an abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG) recording within a hospital setting . The recording returned to normal when the CD player, which the patient was holding close to the ECG lead, was turned off . Technology also can threaten implantable rhythm devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators outside the hospital setting, according to a journal report . The report outlines two cases of retail stores' anti-theft devices causing people's heart devices to malfunction . The anti-theft devices are commonly placed near store exits and entrances, triggering an alarm if customers leave with merchandise that was not purchased . In two instances in Tennessee, customers with a pacemaker and an implantable cardiac defibrillator experienced adverse reactions after nearing anti-theft devices . The devices triggered the adverse reactions, sending both patients to emergency rooms for evaluation . The report's authors recommend that the anti-theft devices be placed in areas of stores where customers won't linger -- away from vending machines or displays of sale merchandise, for instance -- to help avoid future episodes . Store employees also should be trained to move a customer who has collapsed near an anti-theft device when medically advisable, says J . Rod Gimbel, M . D, of East Tennessee Heart Consultants, and an author of the report . If they aren't moved, they could experience recurring life-threatening malfunction to their implantable device, as did one patient who was described in the report . "Simply moving the person away from the anti-theft device may save their life," Dr . Gimbel says . About five years ago, on a visit to MIT, we had a casual discussion with a physician leader, and asked why we hadn't seen signs banning cell phones . His response was fast and simple, "They don't bother anything . " Ever since that visit, we lifted the ban on cell phones in our hospital, and nothing has happened to anyone . In March 2007, Mayo Clinic researchers published the results of a study in which they attempted to deliberately create interference in medical devices through the use of cell phones . They used them near 200 different medical devices in 75 patient rooms at their facility . They also tested BlackBerry models as well . The paper published in March of '07 in the "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" says there are no "clinically imprortant interferences" when cell phones were used in a "normal" way . According to Mayo Clinic researchers, Jeffrey Tri, Rodney Severson, Linda Hyberger, the long-held notion that they are unsafe to use in health care facilities is not valid . Three hundred tests were performed over a five-month period in 2006, without incurring a single problem . You can look this up at www . mayoclinicproceedings . com or on Snopes . com . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 755639 | 2009-03-13 06:53:00 | Thanks for that Joe - that's my feeling generally, without true knowledge! I can remember speaking to another hospital staff person on another occasion ( I think someone from the Med Techs Dept). She was sure that cell phones had no ill effect on their gear. | R.M. (561) | ||
| 755640 | 2009-03-13 19:35:00 | Are you talking about a Faraday cage? If so, wouldn't the aircraft itself act as one? The term cage is pretty accurate (not "shell", for example) . If a plane was corroded enough that it no longer worked as one, you'd have bigger problems . No, I was talking about shielded cables, coaxes and the like, when the connectors (of these cables) fail its usually caused by corrosion or vibration . they don't fail completely they get "leaky" I . E . susceptible to interference . These cables run inside the aircraft . Even Antennas on the outside of the Aircraft have their connectors poking into the interior through holes in the Aircraft skin . So in reality the cables and connectors are inside the Aircraft along with any cellphone and the limited Faraday cage effect will keep most of the cellphone RF in the Aircraft . |
porkster (6331) | ||
| 755641 | 2009-03-13 19:48:00 | I have rf problems on aircraft before but you know because the vhf is all staticcy. I have fixed microlights where the cow cockies who owned them have used 75ohm tv cable for aerial run. First thing I check is that there is no continuity between the inner and outer plug. Check aerial earthed . Check aerial about right length for 119. Biggest prob is spark plugs and leads gotta swap stuff out to find it, also fuel pump and charging system put capacitors on see what happens. I couldn't imagine medical equipment having a problem with a cell phone even those cool machines in the movies that go piiiiiiiiiiiiiing them show a flat line as the goody checks out. |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 755642 | 2009-03-13 19:57:00 | Thanks for that Joe - that's my feeling generally, without true knowledge! I can remember speaking to another hospital staff person on another occasion ( I think someone from the Med Techs Dept). She was sure that cell phones had no ill effect on their gear. And there in lies the problem, those with no idea how a cellphone works but in a position where people will believe them making statements just because they have seen people using cellphones near equipment/patients. Now anybody who reads this forum will think its OK to use cellphones in hospitals. Yet most people know cellphones interfere with normal telephones, PC speakers, and MP3 players. Why do they think that they won't interfere with medical equipment? Try one near an ECG machine.... |
porkster (6331) | ||
| 755643 | 2009-03-13 20:31:00 | Mythbusters debunked the myth that they cause interference with airplane electrical equipment, same as they debunked that they could cause an explosion at a petrol station. | radium (8645) | ||
| 755644 | 2009-03-13 20:46:00 | Cellies at petrol station was probably hangover from radio days. Transmission on a powerful radio could make a spark which could set off petrol fumes. What do the eggspurts say about cellies and ECG machines? |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 755645 | 2009-03-13 20:46:00 | Mythbusters debunked the myth that they cause interference with airplane electrical equipment, same as they debunked that they could cause an explosion at a petrol station. "The Mythbusters didn't debunk anything. They create sensationalized television programs. Their is no science behind what they do. If this is the your only source of technical information then the earth is doomed. |
porkster (6331) | ||
| 755646 | 2009-03-13 20:56:00 | Cellies at petrol station was probably hangover from radio days. Transmission on a powerful radio could make a spark which could set off petrol fumes. What do the eggspurts say about cellies and ECG machines? for the petrol station thing.... see here (www.youtube.com) or here (www.youtube.com) |
porkster (6331) | ||
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