In many hospitals there's still the perception that cell phones can disrupt some patient monitoring equipment and pagers operate on a different frequency, so they're considered safe.
In many hospitals there's still the perception that cell phones can disrupt some patient monitoring equipment and pagers operate on a different frequency, so they're considered safe.
You say "there's still the perception" which implies that it is not true. Is it in error?
There have been a number of studies recently that indicate that for the most part cell phones do not pose a danger around most medical equipment in hospitals (this study is from 2007 from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-rst/3958.html). But I believe there are some types of equipment that can experience interference, and hospitals find it easier to maintain an outright ban than try to finesse the whole thing.
Having spent entirely too much time in hospitals since the first of the year, I can say that no one ever tried to stop me from using my cell phone in my room, but I often saw signs in various clinics and testing facilities (CT/PET scan, X-ray, etc.) that said cell phones had to be turned off.
The main reason I used mine was to retrieve friends' and family's phone numbers to let them know what was going on. With the advent of in-phone contacts storage, I can't remember anyone's phone number anymore!
There have been a number of studies recently that indicate that for the most part cell phones do not pose a danger around most medical equipment in hospitals (this study is from 2007 from the Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic - Hospital Equipment Unaffected By Cell Phone Use, Study Finds). But I believe there are some types of equipment that can experience interference, and hospitals find it easier to maintain an outright ban than try to finesse the whole thing.
Having spent entirely too much time in hospitals since the first of the year, I can say that no one ever tried to stop me from using my cell phone in my room, but I often saw signs in various clinics and testing facilities (CT/PET scan, X-ray, etc.) that said cell phones had to be turned off.
Only on cardiac floors do they ban cell phone use. I have been working the last three weeks with 3 different hospital who have reception issues. My company is installing equipment so the doctors can use there phone all over inside the hospitals including (Radiology, Surgery, ER, and most other parts of the hospital you wouldn't think you could use a cell phone).
I was told by several different hospital administrators they consider cell phone use by patients and visitors more of an annoyance than anything else.
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I also wonder if HIPPA (not sure I got the acronym right) has anything to do with it. If a doctor answers his/her cell phone in the presence of others, and discusses a patient where others can hear it, that's a HIPPA violation. The pager makes it so that a doctor can make it a bit easier to excuse themselves to make the call.
HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
It's only a problem if he mentions the patient's name.
exactly right. We have special "cell phones" that all doctors and many of the other clinical and non-clinical staff are issued at the hospital. They work on a different frequency and are only usable while on the hospital campus. It's the most direct way to get a hold of anyone in the hospital.
I was referencing those studies that refute if cell phones actually do cause issues with equipment. I think with the change to digital, that the risk has been diminished if not eliminated.
I'll agree that it's more of an annoyance than anything for those working in the hospital. It's amazing the number of people who will answer their phone and continue to have a conversation while you're trying to get information from them in my job, or for clinical staff when they're trying to make an assessment, explain what's going on, etc.
Why do docs still carry pagers? 
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