Electromagnetic Interference Incidents
If you are aware of an incident in which a cell phones or other devices interfered with a medical device and have reproduced the interference (EMI), please use this site to enter the incident. All names and hospitals will be confidential.
EMI has been a concern in hospitals since the first published reports in the 1990s. This led to a standard for shielding medical equipment from EMI. Walkie-talkies and the first generation of cell phones caused these. Since then, cell phones operate on considerably less power but there is still concern that they can interfere with medical equipment. Unfortunately, there is sparse documentation in reports of interference, which at present does not allow for definitive policies about whether such devices should be freely used in hospitals. In addition, there might be other incidences of interference which conveniently are classified by the technician sent to investigate and finding nothing abnormal, classifies as "no problem found" in order to close out the work order.
We are offering this space as a platform for reporting on documented incidents of electromagnetic interference of medical equipment. Documented means that the interference was reproduced and the reason for the interference was proven. An important aspect of the documentation would be to measure the distance at which the proven interference disappears. Is the currently accepted but unproven rule of thumb to keep cell phones at least 3 feet away from critical devices necessary or does the device literally have to be within inches form a particular section of particular medical device models?
Submit your documented incident to John Collins at jcollins@aha.org.