NEW AND INTERESTING THINGS!!

CCHS Family Conference set for June 25-27, 1998 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Agenda includes several panels involving CCHS Physicians and CCHS families.

(Dr. David Gozal(Tulane Medical School), Dr. Debra Weese-Mayer, Dr. Jean Silvestri(Chicago, Rush St. Lukes Medical Centre), Dr. Tom Keens(Los Angeles Childrens, USC Medical School), Dr. Tom Rice(Wisconsin Childrens), Dr. Charles MyersIII(Cincinnati Childrens-ENT), Dr. Irene Ludwig(LSU Eye Center, New Orleans), Dr. Mary Vanderlaan.

PLAN TO ATTEND:  Contact Carol Neely (615-848-0546)

IMPORTANT NOTICE RE: CELLULAR TELEPHONE, POWER WHEELCHAIRS AND LIFE SUPPORT APPARATUS

Ian Dennison at GF Strong recently did a little testing of wheelchair control and ventilator susceptibility to cellular telephone generated interference. He did this with the help of a BC Tel Mobility cellular phone expert. What they found is that some cellular telephones can cause some wheelchair controls and some ventilators to malfunction.

In the meantine, please do not carry or use cellular telephones near persons on power wheelchairs or on life supporting equipment (ventilators, paced breathing assistance, pacemakers) and inform clients who may be in danger. (Original message from: Bryan Oulton, BC Regional Manager, Creative Employment Options)

**Note from Joanne Kocourek:  From what I understand, this is a very accurate report. This report was also researched and verified by Marc Majerus, Assistant Chief Engineer of KMSP-TV UPN 9. Other factors to consider include: 1) We personally have had two vent failures (NEV 100) and failure of a CR monitor and pulse oximeter as a result of direct interference from our neighbors cell phone. 2) Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago had several children either die or become severely compromised as a direct result of cell phone use in their Peds ICU. This is why al of the Peds ICU's nationaly now have a cellular phone use prohibited sign posted. The RF (Radio Frequency) Energy from the cell phone MAY affect the metering, which is what all the alarms are based on. It is probably not affecting the mechanical operation of the vent, but depending on which alarm is triggered, could cause a fault of some kind to occur, shutting down the vent accidentally. Your supplier should have info on this and may be able to suggest a fix. Switching phones may help. Some phones are more "RF Shielded" than others.

In our case the interference actually "reprogrammed" the ventilator once and shut it down completely three times. It also, shut down a total of four monitoring systems. No one ever figured out how to eliminate the problem. No RF shield that we tried solved the problem. We finally had to ask our neighbor to please not use their cell phone in the driveway by the kids bedroom. The "safe distance" was determined to be 30 feet. Even our UPS system, which filters power into the machines didn't help.

Joanne Kocourek-University of Chicago-jskocour@midway.uchicago.edu