CELL PHONE USE RESTRICTED AT HOSPITAL

Ernie Craft has seen the problems that unregulated cell phone use can cause at a hospital.

Craft, biomedical services director at Southeast Missouri Hospital, recalls watching several years ago as an activated cell phone knocked out the central monitor in a newly constructed surgery recovery area.

Central monitors allow nurses to supervise patients' recovery progress.

It was only a test at the time, as no patients had moved into the unit yet. But the danger is real, and hospital officials want to remind patients and visitors that cell phone and two-way radio use is prohibited in many parts of the hospital.

With that in mind, Southeast employees are installing signs throughout the hospital to remind visitors of the regulations, which are in place to prevent potentially disastrous situations.

"They can potentially, and have, caused equipment failure, and that puts the patient at risk," Craft said.

Most hospital equipment, from monitors to ventilators, can be affected by the electromagnetic interference put out by cell phones.

In addition to the signs, visitors and patients receive handouts in the admitting area to warn them of the hospital's rules.

Visitors are not allowed to use phones and two-way radios in any areas where there are patients, including waiting rooms where there could be ambulatory patients with mobile, electronic monitors.

Cell phones are allowed in the main lobby on the hospital's first floor and in other areas.

Officials at St. Francis Medical Center have taken a different approach to cell phone use. Rick Essner, director of environmental engineering, said hospital officials monitor the use of cell phones and two-way radios and keep tabs on equipment that may be especially sensitive to other electronic equipment.

"We've never had a documented problem of any type with the use of cell phones. We studied it several years ago and found that there were no problems," Essner said. "They're of such low wattage now and have a lot less of a frequency range that they don't cause problems."

Essner said he has found that two-radios, such as those used by emergency and security personnel, are more apt to cause problems than cell phones.

"We feel (cell phones) are a very valuable tool for many people, and, as such, we would rather not automatically ban them, but research any problems and allow their use," he said.

At Southeast, visitors with questions about where they can use phones or two-way radios should talk to the nearest nurse manager or staff member, Craft said.

Although he understands that people often take cell phone use for granted, at Southeast, Craft said, those people can expect to get "mobbed" by staff members if they pull out their cell phone in any areas where there are patients.

"I've seen reactions from people who get quite irate, who think it's impossible. How can a cell phone create dangers to their machines?'" Craft said.

"Sometimes it's difficult for nurses to explain to them the dangers. People just don't realize it."