Use in hospitals

Use of mobile phones is sometimes discouraged inside hospitals.

Their ring tones, as well as the resulting conversation, may disturb patients. The conversations may also interfere with important discussions between health care workers and patients.[79]

Ring tones and alarms could also be confused with sounds from medical equipment. Their electromagnetic signals could also interfere with medical devices, even in stand-by mode. [79] However, this potential interference may only be significant in intensive care and NICU.