Debate about cell phones in hospitals.

[sparks19]

Recently there has been some news articles in our local paper about hospitals refuting the thought that cell phones interfere with the machines. Many hospitals have foudn it does not affect the machines and are allowing cell phone use.... others are adamant that they do not want cell phones used in the hospital....

My question is this....

Why does it matter? Whether it interferes with machines or not people should NOT use their phones in the hospital nor even have them turned on. Remember a hospital is full of sick and injured people.... I'm sure the last thing they want to hear is everyone's cell phone ringing and playing their ridiculous songs and other noises.... nor do they want to hear some loudmouth chatting away about the days happenings. IMO< if you must use your cell phone while at a hospital please go outside to do so. There is no need to use it inside and disturb the patients.

What is your opinion?

[ramanth]

When Andy was very ill and in ICU, I would step out into the hall or into the waiting room to call family and friends to update them on his condition. I was not allowed to use the phone at the nurse station, there was no phone in his room, and no pay phone to be found.

Keeping in touch with the outside world while Andy was medically knocked out kept me sane.

Personally, I try to avoid using my cell phone out in public unless I'm expecting a call or such situations like the one I mentioned above. I try to be curteous and put my cell phone on vibrate and I make a mental note not to shout or talk loud.

[Edwina's Secretary]

What about patients gabbing on landline phones? Should those be taken out as well? Might disturb the patient in the next bed?

Last year I was in the emergency room...as a patient. There are many, many area codes in SoCal. They had a phone I could use to call my husband and tell him I was there...but the phone would not call his area code. Had I not had my cell phone to use there would not have been a way for me to talk to him. Same once I was admitted. Only way I could call him was on my cell.

You are assuming cell phone usage is only by visitors. What about patients?

[ramanth]

You bring up a good point Sara. I remember now that when Andy was recovering, he'd call friends from his cell phone to thank them for the well wishes and/or gifts.

He'd even gab when the nurses made him take daily walks. When you're cooped up and don't have visitors, you need to have an outlet of some sort. I'm sure many paitents can agree with that.

[JenBKR]

I've actually wondered about this too. My brother-in-law was in the hospital not long ago, and when we visited him I saw a hospital worker on his cell phone in the hall. I have always thought that you shouldn't have your cell on in hospital, and I'm careful to turn mine off (although I also try not to use my cell in public as much as possible). But I have heard lately that some people are saying it really is safe. When my BIL was in the hospital, he had a phone in his room, but he had to pay at the nurses station to have the phone be able to dial out. He could receive calls, but not call anyone. They told him he was not allowed to use his cell phone. Yet, it was at this hospital that I saw the worker on his cell phone. Strikes me as odd....

[Cinder & Smoke]

You are assuming cell phone usage is only by visitors.
What about patients?

And what about the REAL "abusers" of the No Cell Phone rules ...

The DOCTORS!

I've only had a couple Nurses or Nurse's AIDs complain about me using the
cell dinger inside the Hospital.
I always tried to spot a Doctor while I was being told off ...
it was almost a Sure Thing the Doc would either get or make a cell call while
*I* was being squalked at!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I wonder...what makes a cell phone conversation (assuming the caller isn't shouting etc.) more annoying that any other conversation?

Two people having a conservation on a bus...normal.... someone on a cell phone on a bus...annoying... same volume...same subject....why do we find one more offensive than the other?

(I know I find it to be true!)

[ramanth]

I wonder...what makes a cell phone conversation (assuming the caller isn't shouting etc.) more annoying that any other conversation?

Two people having a conservation on a bus...normal.... someone on a cell phone on a bus...annoying... same volume...same subject....why do we find one more offensive than the other?

(I know I find it to be true!)

Because people love to eavesdrop and only hearing one part of the conversation is annoying!

So please, everyone put your phones on speaker.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Because people love to eavesdrop and only hearing one part of the conversation is annoying!

I suspect you are right. I remember years ago a manager complaining to me that employees at the next table in the lunchroom spoke to each other in such a dialect she could not understand them.... I suggested she stop eavesdropping then and it wouldn't be a problem.....

[Cataholic]

I wonder...what makes a cell phone conversation (assuming the caller isn't shouting etc.) more annoying that any other conversation?

Two people having a conservation on a bus...normal.... someone on a cell phone on a bus...annoying... same volume...same subject....why do we find one more offensive than the other?

(I know I find it to be true!)

You are essentially stating my continued argument FOR cell phone usuage. Less noise traffic!

I really don't understand people's hangup over cell phones. I would be so lost without my cell phone. I am on it nearly all the time, unless I am with Jonah. My time is precious, and, if I am sitting around waiting on something, someone, stuck in court, etc., I *need* my phone.

The local talk jock was going on this morning about someone using a cell phone in the waiting area of a MDs office, and how this guy was just yakking away on his cell phone, and everyone could hear! So blipping what! I hear conversations all the time that I have no 'use' for. Get over it. AND, the ironical part of this story is, the talk jock was going on and on about how long he had to wait in the MDs office (that was the theme of the show). I wanted to call in and say, "too bad you didn't have your cell phone with you, you could have gotten rid of a few tasks, or chatted to your mother, and not noticed the wait". I didn't call in to voice my comment. Why? I was already on the phone!!!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

When I worked at the University of Hospitals, there were cell phones all over- in fact, many doctors and nurses used them for their job. The nurses in labor & delivery and NICU especially needed them. In fact, I was but a lowly janitor, and I had to carry pager, in case a bed needed to be done "stat" or someone needed to get a hold of me- in a large hospital, you need some communication like that.

I didn't find people's cell phone conversations to be distracting or annoying at all, the hospital was so busy it scarcely mattered. And for the people who were waiting with or for loved ones, I can hardly blame them for wanting to contact someone.

[Edwina's Secretary]

And really... a hospital is not the place to go if you are expecting restful peace and quiet! Try getting a good night's sleep in one of those places...

(BTW...it was the admitting physican who told me I could use my cell phone in the emergency room....)

[sparks19]

LOL I really don't udnerstand why this is such a soft spot.... I mean... how did people manage to survive before cell phones were around? How did anyone get a hold of anyone?

Most often than not a hospital will contact your emergency contact if you are in the hospital. Other than that.... they can find a way to contact anyone that needs to know.

I just can't fathom WHY you MUST use a cell phone in a hospital. AND if you HAVE to call someone to tell them that someone is at the hospital... why can't you just step outside.

Wonderful... so SOME people put them on vibrate.... but too many people have the volume CRANKED up with some annoying tune blaring out of the phone... is that nessecary?

it is not hard to have respect for people around you. There is no need to be loud and boisterous... or to have your cell phone constantly ringing.... TURN IT OFF!!!!!!!!!! it's not too much to ask... I'm sure you won't stop breathing if you don't have it on lol It's not a life line... it's a bloody phone. people can wait to talk to you.

[Edwina's Secretary]

When you are the patient it is a little hard to step outside to call. Excuse me...please take out all these tubes and devises so I can go outside and make a call? Doesn't work too well. How is it any different if I call on my cell or call on a landline theyoffered me (which did not have long distance capabilities?)

And by the way...they did offer to tell whoever was waiting in the lobby...however, I had driven myself to the hospital.

Do you think the phones in the hospital rooms should be removed as well? How are those any different?

[Lady's Human]

Cell phones in hospitals are a godsend.

After going through a long-distance pregnancy with my wife, one surgery and one ER visit that wound up as a hospital stay, I would have gone insane without it.

Between the long distance charges in a hospital room and the fact that we now reside 300 miles away from family, it is a great comfort to be able to call on a cell phone rather than pay the hospital $$$ for a simple phone call.