Debate about cell phones in hospitals.

[Lady's Human]

The worry with cellphones in hospitals was twofold.

One, the signals from the older, higher power analog phones did cause disruption in sensitive computer circuits. This would cause interference with medical monitors, as most med monitors are specialized computers. As cell phones are now using much lower powered digital signals, this is no longer a concern.


Some hospitals use wireless systems, and there was minor concern about interference with the wireless systems in use. Completely different frequencies, not a problem.

Hence the lift of the ban.

[sparks19]

The worry with cellphones in hospitals was twofold.

One, the signals from the older, higher power analog phones did cause disruption in sensitive computer circuits. This would cause interference with medical monitors, as most med monitors are specialized computers.

two, hospitals use wireless systems, and there was concern about interference with the wireless systems in use. (completely different frequencies, not a problem)

there you go D and D that should answer your question. i dont know what specific equipment they were worried about though

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thanks to both of you

I have a cell phone and I keep it turned off all the time unless I'm expecting a call from someone. I use it to call my family when I leave work. It comes in handy whenever I need to call someone while in the road. This is just my choice and may not be the choice of others.

I am quite often irritated by cell phone conversations if they're not showing respect for other people, when respect is called for. Working at a library, cellphones are not allowed but we have even become more lenient with those rules to accommodate the necessity of the phone calls. I think it's okay to use a cellphone, most anywhere, but respect is the key.

These days, convenience is our new way of life. No matter how much we object to alot of things, we might as well put up with them because they're not going anywhere. What the heck, I used to despise computers. Look at me now!! On another note....what did we do before we got them?

sparks; I understand your point but I think it's just an issue of the proper use of the phone as opposed to banning them all together. Hospitals are very noisy and some of the most annoying places on earth, all by themselves(just ask Phred ). I personally can't see why an occasional conversation on the phone would be noticed that much by anybody. If it becomes excessive, someone needs to say something about it if it's truly bothering them. JMHO

I almost forgot to throw in another observation of mine. Anytime I've been in the hospital, I hated it because it was lonely(hopefully this doesn't sound contradictory to what I've already said). Anyone who has been hospitalized probably knows what I mean. If I would have had a cell phone, I wouldn't have felt like I was trapped in a prison. Using the hospital phone just didn't appeal to me

[Catlady711]

While I realize I work at a VET hospital not a human hospital, and I'm having to assume that human hosptials run into at least some similar hassles that we did at work. I'm guessing that some of the no cell phone rules may have to do with doctors being able to discuss treatment etc. with the patients and cell phone conversations interfering.

The reason I say this is...

Until a few years ago our vet hospital allowed cell phones inside. We had the usual loud talkers, people who just HAD to answer that call from the kid at home wondering what was for dinner right when the dr. was discussing what to be expected during an upcoming major surgery, walki talki mode set on LOUD so you could clearly hear both ends of the conversation through closed doors, annoying and LOUD ring tones (all of which I might mention tend to frighten timid animals which puts us at higher risk of getting bit).

The FINAL straw was a few years ago. This actually happened! We had a client come in already talking on his cell phone. He sat down in the lobby with his large dog. Never said a word to us and would NOT answer us when we asked his name. We had to match up the dogs discription with the files to figure out who he even was, and check with the appointment book just to find out why he was there! He did respond by getting up when we called the dog's name.

So we put him in a room (not so much as a break in the cell phone convo), and we could hear him in there just yakking away. It wasn't an important call from the end we could hear. At some point while he was in there we heard him say 'bye' and it got quiet. Yay, the guy hung up finally! So much for our elation, nope, do you know what he did next? He dialed up someone else and started up the yaking on the cell phone again. Once more didn't appear to be an important discussion, more like social calls.

So when his turn came the dr. walked in the room, the guy on the phone didn't even look up to acknowledge the dr!! He wouldn't respond to any questions asking about the dog's health since his last visit. So the dr. just did his examination, all while the guy is yakking away. The dog appeared healthy and happy, was due for a vaccination as I recall, and we went ahead and did that and told the owner unless he had questions that he was done. The guy didn't even so much as NOD and walked to the check out with the dog, yaking on his cell phone the ENTIRE time!!

From what our receptionist said, the man talked the ENTIRE time he was checked out, still never responded to questions or acknowledged ANYONE. Just flopped his credit card on the counter, gathered his reciept and left with the dog, STILL yakking on the phone!!!

Later that day the boss put up signs all over the hospital saying NO CELL PHONES INSIDE THE BUILDING!

I'm guessing that if human dr's have had similar things happen, or had someone else in the room yakking on the cell phone while they are trying to discuss a serious medical condition to a patient, that they'd be a little 'down' on cell phones also.

It's not the phones themselves that are the problem, it's the people that use them, and HOW they use them.

[Daisy and Delilah]

CatLady--that guy would have driven me to grabbing the cellphone and whacking him over the head with it. That was a display of nothing but disrespect and complete abandonment of manners. Not to mention his lack of taking responsibility for his dog or his business at hand. Perhaps the doctor/staff should have walked over to him and explained that the phone had to go or he could take his business elsewhere.

The doctor did the right thing by hanging up the signs. Someone talking into a phone while they're doing business with me is rude and inexcusable. He is a good example of why the banning of cell phones is an issue in some places. He gives the phone usage a bad name for no good reason. It is a shame that a blatant display of bad judgement might take away something that may save the day for another person.

[Cinder & Smoke]

That guy would have driven me to grabbing the cellphone and
whacking him over the head with it.

Someone talking into a phone while they're doing business with me is rude and inexcusable.

And what do you do or say when ...

The Offending Cell-Yapper is none other than your Doctor!?

I swear I've got one Doc that has NEVER completed an Office Visit nor a Hospital Rounds Visit
without accepting at least one cell call!
And the receipt of that call often "requires" the initiation of a call to someone else!

HEY - Quack Person!
Pay attention to ME, please. ... You can jabber to your Cronies later!

[sparks19]

And what do you do or say when ...

The Offending Cell-Yapper is none other than your Doctor!?

I swear I've got one Doc that has NEVER completed an Office Visit nor a Hospital Rounds Visit
without accepting at least one cell call!
And the receipt of that call often "requires" the initiation of a call to someone else!

HEY - Quack Person!
Pay attention to ME, please. ... You can jabber to your Cronies later!

Cronies LOL I love that.

As you can probably tell... I am pretty vocal about my likes and dislikes I would probably tell him that I don't have all day and if he would like payment for this visit could he please answer my questions instead of his phone.

[Daisy and Delilah]

And what do you do or say when ...

The Offending Cell-Yapper is none other than your Doctor!?

I swear I've got one Doc that has NEVER completed an Office Visit nor a Hospital Rounds Visit
without accepting at least one cell call!
And the receipt of that call often "requires" the initiation of a call to someone else!

HEY - Quack Person!
Pay attention to ME, please. ... You can jabber to your Cronies later!

That's just rude, crude, and unacceptable, Phred. But what can we do? After all, they make so much more money than we do, drive a better car than we do, and, their time is so much more valuable than ours is. Right??

sparks; This topic has certainly brought on a spirited discussion. I have learned alot from other people's perspectives. Maybe now I will be more tolerant of some cellphone users or.....maybe not

[sparks19]

That's just rude, crude, and unacceptable, Phred. But what can we do? After all, they make so much more money than we do, drive a better car than we do, and, their time is so much more valuable than ours is. Right??

sparks; This topic has certainly brought on a spirited discussion. I have learned alot from other people's perspectives. Maybe now I will be more tolerant of some cellphone users or.....maybe not

LOL you're funny

I have a feeling though that this particular Dr's care might have been less than stellar whether he was on the phone or not.... I mean if that is normal practice for him to be so rude.

:Eek: I was talking to a lady the other day about labour and she was saying that while she was in the final stages of labour she was screaming and making a bunch of noise lol and her mid wife told her to shut up.... :Eek: I think my foot would have "Accidently" slipped off the stirrup and kicked her LOL.

[sparks19]

CatLady--that guy would have driven me to grabbing the cellphone and whacking him over the head with it. That was a display of nothing but disrespect and complete abandonment of manners. Not to mention his lack of taking responsibility for his dog or his business at hand. Perhaps the doctor/staff should have walked over to him and explained that the phone had to go or he could take his business elsewhere.

The doctor did the right thing by hanging up the signs. Someone talking into a phone while they're doing business with me is rude and inexcusable. He is a good example of why the banning of cell phones is an issue in some places. He gives the phone usage a bad name for no good reason. It is a shame that a blatant display of bad judgement might take away something that may save the day for another person.

LOL since he wasn't paying attention... I would have charged him double hahahaha if he had called back (although I imagine it would be difficult for him to find time between his phone calls) and complained I would have told him it was a disturbance fee. LMAO

don't you wish you could say things like that to people at your work?

I have heard this complaint from many ladies that are nurses... they try to do something for a patient and they must sit there and wait on them to get off their cell phone. I said to one friend "don't you wish you could say 'well since this phone call is more important than your health... why don't you just come and interrupt me while I am helping anothe patient whenever it suits YOU and your chat time."

I have to say that at my work... lol my big ol' bead shop (shut up Wombat ) most of our customers are pretty good about their cell phones. They don't answer them during a class.... customers in the store will usually either let the person go or politely say to me "excuse me for one moment" and step outside. they don't just yak it up in the store.... we dont' ask them not to... they just choose not to. Although most of the time it if probably because we are a loud and personable bunch at my store and are always yakking it up with all the customers so they probably just can't hear or if they are the customer we are talking to they will usually grab their phone and shut off the ringer and continue their convo with us. hahahaha.