Mobile Attack
(c) 2008 Puja Goyal
Magazine: Live IT
Month of Publication: January 2009
Hospitals in England had recently banned doctors and patients from using mobile phones. Concern surround the community about the theory that mobile phones interfere with the medical equipments used in the hospital. The government of England later reiterated that hospitals have no reason to enforce a total ban on the use of mobile phones as long as the usage is in compliance to set rules and regulations and does not interfere with the proper functioning of the hospital. The NHS regulator stated that the mobile phone can be safely used in certain areas away from sensitive equipment like intensive care and specialist baby units. Research suggests that mobile phones do in fact affect the proper functioning of vital equipments and that additional testing of such phone use in hospitals is needed.
The study also suggests that the most serious interference occurred when a mobile phone was held one to two inches from the most sensitive area of external cardiopulmonary monitoring devices. Cell phone-related interference was also detected in electro-cardiographic(ECG) tracings displayed on monitors when phones were placed at a distance of 6 to 33 inches from the medical devices (Mayo Clinic). The most severe interference related to cell phone use was noticed when the phone was held near a mechanical ventilator. The phone virtually shut down the ventilator. The ventilator restarted when the phone was held within two inches of a communication port on the back of the ventilator. Mobile phones used at a distance of 60 inches from electrical equipment within a patient's room or central nursing stations are unlikely to cause serious equipment malfunctions, the researchers said.
The crux of the situation is that most of this research is based on theory and without scientific testing. However, the debate of whether the mobile phones should be banned in a hospital continues more on ethical and functional levels than on technical grounds. In India however, the issue is more moral, social and ethical in approach rather than technical in idea. The truth is that mobile phones cannot be banned entirely from use in hospitals. Authorities therefore will have to find a balance between using the phones effectively and at the same time ensuring that there is no risk to patients who are using medical equipment such as heart monitors and infusion pumps. Most importantly, to ensure that the real object of the hospital, which is to provide patients who are ill with adequate rest and treatment; is not violated or hampered.
The reality is that very few adhere to hospital etiquette. For example: Wokhardt Hospital in Bangalore has various posters citing the visitors to ‘maintain silence’ and to ‘switch off mobile phones’. These posters are hung in receptions and other areas where patients could be liable to discomfort from visitors. Even then, not many consider following the request to ‘switch off mobile phones’ when in the premises of the hospital.
The hospital authorities always hope that visitors are mature enough to understand that they should maintain silence; and that a hospital is a place of rest and recovery. Most people do not realize that they should have their mobiles switched off or on silent when they are in ICU, wards or clinical areas. During the course of arranging material for this article I visited various hospitals and found that, surprisingly, there was more decorum in public hospitals than private ones. One hour was sufficient to determine the degree of restlessness a patient would feel amongst the loud conversations the visitors indulged in on their mobile phones. The phones of course rang to different loud and obvious tunes before they were answered. It could be that the visitor is unaware, negligent or simply decides to display pure disregard for the safety and concern of the patient.
If the need to answer the call arises then the call should be taken keeping in mind where the visitor is. The ward sister, charge nurse or doctor may permit use, depending on the circumstances. It is always proper and courteous to ask if you could use a mobile phone and the nurses and patients appreciate it. Mobiles can be used in public areas like hospital entrances, the coffee shops and on the concourses outside wards. However, you should not use your phone within 2 meters of a patient who is connected to medical equipment.
The question is: why the clinical staff is allowed to keep their phone on while the visitor is not. Clinical staff is allowed to carry mobile phones or pagers so that they may be contacted when an emergency arises. They are aware of the risks of using mobile phones in a hospital and they understand that if their phone affects a nearby medical device then they can respond appropriately.
Live IT Jan09
Magazine: Live IT
Month of Publication: January 2009
Hospitals in England had recently banned doctors and patients from using mobile phones. Concern surround the community about the theory that mobile phones interfere with the medical equipments used in the hospital. The government of England later reiterated that hospitals have no reason to enforce a total ban on the use of mobile phones as long as the usage is in compliance to set rules and regulations and does not interfere with the proper functioning of the hospital. The NHS regulator stated that the mobile phone can be safely used in certain areas away from sensitive equipment like intensive care and specialist baby units. Research suggests that mobile phones do in fact affect the proper functioning of vital equipments and that additional testing of such phone use in hospitals is needed.
The study also suggests that the most serious interference occurred when a mobile phone was held one to two inches from the most sensitive area of external cardiopulmonary monitoring devices. Cell phone-related interference was also detected in electro-cardiographic(ECG) tracings displayed on monitors when phones were placed at a distance of 6 to 33 inches from the medical devices (Mayo Clinic). The most severe interference related to cell phone use was noticed when the phone was held near a mechanical ventilator. The phone virtually shut down the ventilator. The ventilator restarted when the phone was held within two inches of a communication port on the back of the ventilator. Mobile phones used at a distance of 60 inches from electrical equipment within a patient's room or central nursing stations are unlikely to cause serious equipment malfunctions, the researchers said.
The crux of the situation is that most of this research is based on theory and without scientific testing. However, the debate of whether the mobile phones should be banned in a hospital continues more on ethical and functional levels than on technical grounds. In India however, the issue is more moral, social and ethical in approach rather than technical in idea. The truth is that mobile phones cannot be banned entirely from use in hospitals. Authorities therefore will have to find a balance between using the phones effectively and at the same time ensuring that there is no risk to patients who are using medical equipment such as heart monitors and infusion pumps. Most importantly, to ensure that the real object of the hospital, which is to provide patients who are ill with adequate rest and treatment; is not violated or hampered.
The reality is that very few adhere to hospital etiquette. For example: Wokhardt Hospital in Bangalore has various posters citing the visitors to ‘maintain silence’ and to ‘switch off mobile phones’. These posters are hung in receptions and other areas where patients could be liable to discomfort from visitors. Even then, not many consider following the request to ‘switch off mobile phones’ when in the premises of the hospital.
The hospital authorities always hope that visitors are mature enough to understand that they should maintain silence; and that a hospital is a place of rest and recovery. Most people do not realize that they should have their mobiles switched off or on silent when they are in ICU, wards or clinical areas. During the course of arranging material for this article I visited various hospitals and found that, surprisingly, there was more decorum in public hospitals than private ones. One hour was sufficient to determine the degree of restlessness a patient would feel amongst the loud conversations the visitors indulged in on their mobile phones. The phones of course rang to different loud and obvious tunes before they were answered. It could be that the visitor is unaware, negligent or simply decides to display pure disregard for the safety and concern of the patient.
If the need to answer the call arises then the call should be taken keeping in mind where the visitor is. The ward sister, charge nurse or doctor may permit use, depending on the circumstances. It is always proper and courteous to ask if you could use a mobile phone and the nurses and patients appreciate it. Mobiles can be used in public areas like hospital entrances, the coffee shops and on the concourses outside wards. However, you should not use your phone within 2 meters of a patient who is connected to medical equipment.
The question is: why the clinical staff is allowed to keep their phone on while the visitor is not. Clinical staff is allowed to carry mobile phones or pagers so that they may be contacted when an emergency arises. They are aware of the risks of using mobile phones in a hospital and they understand that if their phone affects a nearby medical device then they can respond appropriately.
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