June 7, 2006 - Hedrick Medical Center is pleased to announce two policy changes that will affect employees, patients, and visitors at the hospital. The changes are designed to improve patient and family communications and to improve the health of all visitors to the hospital. Effective May 1, the hospital removed almost all restrictions on the use of cell phones inside the hospital. Previously, there use had been banned inside the facility due to limited research regarding cell phones interference with medical devices such as ventilators and heart monitors.

New research from ECRI - a healthcare industry research group - shows no or very limited interference from cell phones when used at distances greater than three feet. As such, patients and visitors will be allowed to use their cell phones directly from patient rooms, as long as they remain more than three feet from medical devices. Cell phone usage will continue to be restricted in the intensive care unit and in surgery and recovery. Cell phones will also be restricted in any room containing EEG or EKG equipment.