Cell phones in the OR

[Retinamark]

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At last some evidence to help overturn the outdated ban on cellphones in hospitals. They are banned because old analog phones caused interference, but because of ridiculous legal issues, hospitals are too scared to remove the ban, even though digital phones do not cause interference.

Cell phone use may reduce the risk of medical errors, injury
A study appearing in the February issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia finds that hospital bans on the use of cellphones may actually increase the danger to patients, eventhough many hospitals ban them due to possible interference with the functioning of medical equipment. A survey completed by more than 4,000 participants in a meeting of anesthesiologists in 2003, finds that interference from cellphones was rare: only 2.4 percent of respondents reported seeing such a problem. At the same time, the researchers found that using cellphones instead of pagers was associated with a 22 percent reduction in the risk of medical error or injury resulting from communication delay.


Cellular telephone use by anesthesiologists is associated with a reduction in the risk of medical error or injury resulting from communication delay (relative risk = 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.6234–0.9649). The small risks of electromagnetic interference between mobile telephones and medical devices should be weighed against the potential benefits of improved communication.
http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/content/abstract/102/2/535

 

[Plastikos]

At last some evidence to help overturn the outdated ban on cellphones in hospitals. They are banned because old analog phones caused interference, but because of ridiculous legal issues, hospitals are too scared to remove the ban, even though digital phones do not cause interference.

Cell phone use may reduce the risk of medical errors, injury
A study appearing in the February issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia finds that hospital bans on the use of cellphones may actually increase the danger to patients, eventhough many hospitals ban them due to possible interference with the functioning of medical equipment. A survey completed by more than 4,000 participants in a meeting of anesthesiologists in 2003, finds that interference from cellphones was rare: only 2.4 percent of respondents reported seeing such a problem. At the same time, the researchers found that using cellphones instead of pagers was associated with a 22 percent reduction in the risk of medical error or injury resulting from communication delay.


Cellular telephone use by anesthesiologists is associated with a reduction in the risk of medical error or injury resulting from communication delay (relative risk = 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.6234–0.9649). The small risks of electromagnetic interference between mobile telephones and medical devices should be weighed against the potential benefits of improved communication.
http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/content/abstract/102/2/535

I had also heard that those things only happen when a call is incoming/outgoing and your basically have to be standing right next to the telemetry.

 

[lateness]

I had also heard that those things only happen when a call is incoming/outgoing and your basically have to be standing right next to the telemetry.

i heard this too, and even then it is still very low percentage.. i remember at the hospital i was at and they were doing this study..

 

[dawg44]

It may help in the OR to reduce errors because anesthesia might actually stay awake during a case by talking on a cell phone or put down that edition of the DuPont Registry.

 

[Sugar72]

It may help in the OR to reduce errors because anesthesia might actually stay awake during a case by talking on a cell phone or put down that edition of the DuPont Registry.

I thought we stayed awake by checking our email and SDN. Oh and the minute to minute valuation of our stock portfolios. I guess I should wait to include myself in the 'we' until monday noon!

 

[dawg44]

LOL good luck