Patients and visitors may now use a cell phone or BlackBerry when they visit Headwaters Health Care Centre.

"Staying in touch with family and friends is important for our patients," said Bob Baynham, the hospital's president and CEO. "We are delighted we can enhance our patient and visitor experience by opening most areas of the hospital to cell phone and wireless-device use."

Patients and visitors are able to use cell phones and wireless devices safely in the main lobbies, cafeteria, waiting areas, and patient rooms

(except obstetrics patients) at both the Orangeville and Shelburne sites.

Cell phones and wireless devices will continue to be prohibited in the Intensive Care Unit, Dialysis Unit, Operating Rooms, Birthing Suites and Nursery in Obstetrics, clinical areas of the Emergency Department the clinical areas of the Diagnostic Imaging Department, and the Laboratory (both sites), because of the type of medical equipment used in these departments.

Signage clearly indicates where a cell phone or wireless device cannot be used. Cell

phones and wireless devices must be turned off before entering these clinical areas.

"In moving forward with this change we encourage all patients and visitors to turn their cell phone ringer off (vibrate mode) out of courtesy to others," Mr. Baynham said.

Advances in technology and recent research have allowed Headwaters to make this change. Headwaters' biomedical engineer worked closely with Trillium Health Centre to develop the new policy for our hospital. Trillium opened its hospital to wireless communication devices in February 2005.