Radiofrequency field surveys in hospitals

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Healthcare Technology

Background:

• Radiofrequency (RF) fields are prevalent in modern environments.
• Potential interference of RF fields with sensitive medical equipment is a growing concern.
• Understanding RF field levels within healthcare facilities is crucial for patient safety and equipment integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey and quantify radiofrequency (RF) field levels within hospital settings.
• To gather baseline data on RF field exposure relevant to medical equipment interference.
• To identify specific hospital locations and sources associated with higher RF field strengths.

Main Methods:

• Conducted RF field surveys across four hospitals in the Philadelphia area.
• Measurements were taken within the 0.1-1,000 MHz frequency range.
• RF field strengths were assessed at multiple sites within each hospital, including areas near potential sources and general locations.

Main Results:

• Median RF field strengths were generally low, ranging from 0.1-0.5 V/m.
• RF signals from broadcast sources occasionally exceeded 1 V/m at specific sites.
• Significantly higher RF fields were detected near electrosurgical units and hand-held transmitters (cellular telephones, UHF transceivers).

Conclusions:

• While overall median RF field levels in hospitals are low, localized "hotspots" with higher intensities exist.
• Sources such as electrosurgical devices and personal communication devices can generate substantial RF fields.
• Further investigation is warranted to assess the practical implications of these findings on medical device performance and patient safety.