Debate about cell phones in hospitals.

[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!!!

[shais_mom]

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?

I haven't read any of the rest of the replies but this is an EXCELLANT point. I WORK in a hospital and a couple weeks ago we had a patient on the (room)phone with a drunk friend of his yelling so loudly the lady down the hall asked if they could shut him up. Oh did I mention that this was in the middle of a blizzard so no one was going anywhere AND after 11pm??? Mind you patients are filling out PRESS GAINEY http://www.pressganey.com/ customer satisfaction surveys after every hospital visit and I'm sure that the employees will be the ones that get blistered over this when it was a patient b/c you can't tell them what to do. (we just had an old man (his name was listed in his survey) that said there were too many fat people employed at our facility) gggrr
A couple years ago when we didn't allow cell phones in our facility, I saw a lady walking down the hall talking about her new grandbaby just as loud as can be. I politely said "ma'am you can't use a cell phone in here" and she looked at me STRAIGHT in the eye and said "yea I know and I don't care" her daughters (adults) were MORTIFIED they said MOM GET OFF THE PHONE! she said "pfft what's she going to do shoot me?" I then found out that she was a previous employee of the hospital and KNEW better. I then decided I wasn't saying anything to anyone in hospitals about cell phones. Then we approved that it was ok to use them...
Along the same lines of disrupting sick people how about people that bring SCREAMING CHILDREN TO VISIT THEIR SICK RELATIVES? Last week there was a child that was squealing and screaming so loud in a patients room I heard her thru closed doors and down the hallway. The parents kept the child there for at least an hour or longer.... I would rather hear a little cell phone ring and someone talking on the phone than a child screaming bloody murder that resembles nails on a chalkboard.

But my feeling is that hospital staff aren't paid to follow cell phone users around to make sure they aren't being obnoxious with them (as we can all agree that many cell users are)

out of this ENTIRE thread this is the only thing you have said that I have even REMOTELY agreed with.
Debating is one thing. But the most important thing to remember (MYSELF INCLUDED very much so) is that not everyone THINKS the same way you do and this does not make them right or wrong. More times than not in the times I have seen you 'debate' with others you make it seem like yours is the only RIGHT opinion. Keep in mind that I was NOT on the debate team, nor am I blaming your pregnancy one iota!!! I HATE politics for this reason and I stay out of the doghouse most of the time B/C of the 'debatable' topics..........

[Logan]

Sparks, sorry, but I agree with every one else. Within reason, cell phones should be allowed in hospitals, nursing homes, doctor's offices, etc etc etc, as long as they are not interfering with the regular business of that establishment. They provide a means of communication that would be much harder, otherwise. I would hope that anyone who leaves their phone "on" would respect the rights of others, including the professional people who are caring for them. Of course, if the doctor is standing there, needing to discuss something with a patient, any reasonable human being should get off the phone, and at least turn the ringer off, rather than saying "I'll be off in a minute". I imagine this is the exact reason that the rules are in place, if they aren't there to deter people from messing up the technology in the hospital.

I always turn mine off when I head into any office or my church, and usually just leave it in the car, instead of risking it ringing and annoying someone or ringing at a bad time.

Just my thoughts. If everyone was as careful as us, we might not need this sort of "rule" at all.

[Edwina's Secretary]

What is your opinion?

I can't help but wonder why you ask for the opinion of others?

People have told you their opinion and when it helped them deal with a difficult situation.

You have told those who disagree with you that they are wrong.

So...since you already know the one right answer, why ask?

[sparks19]

I can't help but wonder why you ask for the opinion of others?

Because I like the opinions. LOL I am n ot allowed to debate the opinions? LOL the thread title says DEBATE... incase there was any confusion.


Oh and you forgot

[Lady's Human]

Let's start with a basic of medical care.

Anything that makes the patient more comfortable physically and mentally assists in the patient's recovery.

Communication with family helps the patient be more comfortable.

Communication with the family helps the patient's family (and by extension the patient) be more comfortable.

There is no electronic reason to ban them.

If you don't like cell phones in hospitals, there's a simple solution. Find a hospital that bans them, and go there.

You'll probably even be able to get a private room at a decent rate, as I don't think they'll have many willing patrons.

[sparks19]

Let's start with a basic of medical care.

Anything that makes the patient more comfortable physically and mentally assists in the patient's recovery.

Communication with family helps the patient be more comfortable.

Communication with the family helps the patient's family (and by extension the patient) be more comfortable.

There is no electronic reason to ban them.

If you don't like cell phones in hospitals, there's a simple solution. Find a hospital that bans them, and go there.

You'll probably even be able to get a private room at a decent rate, as I don't think they'll have many willing patrons.

So if it was an emergency you would call around to find a hospital that allowed cell phone use?

If you ended up in a hospital that didn't allow cell phone use would you request a transfer.

The hospital I am going to is very small and personal. They dont allow cell phone use... as I said it is a very tiny hospital. it is a half hour away but they offer better personal care than the large hospitals. (at least the ones around here)

See my problem isn't really the people that are AWARE that people around them are sick and what not and they can keep their voice down and their ringers off.... but that is not the majority of people. If everyone had the common sense to turn the ringer off and talk very quietly on a cell phone in a hospital I might not be so objected to it's use in a hospital. BUT too many people seem to be lacking that whole common sense thing and don't understand that not everyone wants to hear their favourite song blaring out of their phone... or how drunk they got last night lol. Especially when they are ill enough to be in the hospital. And since I don't think the Dr's should have to babysit people who don't have common sense... cell phone use should be restricted to private rooms or a cell phone designated area at the very least.

[Karen]

I carry a cell phone and rarely use it. However, if a loved one was taken to the hospital, and I was there with them, I'd rather have the option to go to a quiet spot and use the cell phone there to notify and family members, and or contact clergy.

Sparks19, maybe you and everyone in your family is healthy, count your blessings for that. Have you never had to promise an elderly relative, "Yes, Auntie, I will call X and Y and Z as soon as I get home, I promise"? That was in the days before cell phones. If I had been able to call them right that minute, she would have been less upset. Have you never dealt with being in a hospital room that doesn't have a phone assigned to it yet? How nice it would be to be able to call home using a cell phone instead.

[sparks19]

I carry a cell phone and rarely use it. However, if a loved one was taken to the hospital, and I was there with them, I'd rather have the option to go to a quiet spot and use the cell phone there to notify and family members, and or contact clergy.

Sparks19, maybe you and everyone in your family is healthy, count your blessings for that. Have you never had to promise an elderly relative, "Yes, Auntie, I will call X and Y and Z as soon as I get home, I promise"? That was in the days before cell phones. If I had been able to call them right that minute, she would have been less upset. Have you never dealt with being in a hospital room that doesn't have a phone assigned to it yet? How nice it would be to be able to call home using a cell phone instead.

Read my last post

While my family is actually quite healthy I do have VERY elderly grandparents and one is on her way for a hip replacement at 86 years of age. My grandfather has had a few heart attacks... it is amazing he has lived to be almost 90... My grandmother died of liver cancer at 54.... my uncle has had multiple heart attacks.... my great grandmother had diabetes... but she also lived to be 89.

I have no problem with going to a quiet area to make your call.... and like I said.... I just don't think part of a Drs job is to babysit the people who can't use a cell phone respectfully so there should be a designated cell phone area to do so where you will not run the risk of disturbing anyone. I know I would feel terrible if I were to get a call on a cell phone that played "you are my sunshine" or something right in front of a mourning family.

[lizbud]

I can't help but wonder why you ask for the opinion of others?

People have told you their opinion and when it helped them deal with a difficult situation.

You have told those who disagree with you that they are wrong.

So...since you already know the one right answer, why ask?

I would blame this bothersome habit on her pregnancy, but it's probably not
that at all. Probably just one of those people who love to argue.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I would blame this bothersome habit on her pregnancy, but it's probably not
that at all. Probably just one of those people who love to argue.

It makes me think of the signature line someone has....."I'm not young enough to know everything!"

[lizbud]

It makes me think of the signature line someone has....."I'm not young enough to know everything!"

There you go. Exactly.

[sparks19]

It makes me think of the signature line someone has....."I'm not young enough to know everything!"

I am personally partial to the signature "well excuse me for having enormous flaws that I don't work on"

AH Homer is classic.