Cell phones don't interefere with hospital devices

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: March 9, 2007 9:11:30 PM EST
To: dave () farber net
Cc: lauren () vortex com
Subject: Study: Cell phones don't interefere with hospital devices


Dave,

This study reports that while anti-theft devices may interfere with
pacemakers, cell phones don't disrupt medical devices at hospitals.

This is not a surprising result.  While patients at many hospitals
are prohibited from using cell phones, it is common for hospital
personnel to have them.  If cell phones are powered on and available
for calls, even if not actually engaged in calls, communication
with the mobile networks will occur at intervals.

Why does one suspect that a major reason for the patient cell phone
bans is to protect the revenue stream from patient calls on the
hospital phone systems?  True, this is probably a drop in the bucket
compared with other patient costs, but every little bit helps, right?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/03/09/cellphones.hospital.reut/index.html

--Lauren--


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