Debate about cell phones in hospitals.

[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.....

[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.

[Cinder & Smoke]

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...

Oooooh, How TRUE!

* Midnite:Thirty ... (SOUND asleep) ... <snaps on ALL Lights> ...
"Hey Bub! Here, take your sleepie pill!" <gulp>
She leaves - with the LIGHTS Burning BRIGHTLY!

* Oh:dark:Thirty in the AM ... A Doc and his "Assistant" <stomp> into the room ...
<snap> and EVERY light in the room comes on - both beds!
LOUD Babbling between the two of them - about the last patient they woke up ...
"Assistant" <grabs> MY wrist for a pulse ...
"Doc" looks at the chart on the bed ... "Oooopsie - wrong patient!"
They adjourn to the window bed ... and start molesting my roomie.

Their "discussion" could have been heard out at the nurses station!
THEN the cell >>RINGS<< ... for an eternity ... Dippy Assistant answers hers ...
"Herrow ... Herrow ... Herrow ..." - while the darn thing CONTINUES to >>RING<<!
"Doctor, I think that might be YOUR phone ..."

He got it answered on about the TENTH ring!
He didn't need the phone - whoever he was SHOUTING AT could have just
opened their window and heard him fine!
Then they left ... leaving ALL our lights burning brightly!

* Then there were the 6:00 AM Wake-Ups to "get ready" for a test that wasn't
scheduled to start till 9:00 AM.

And they *b!tched* about me yappin on the cell dinger!

[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!!!