Electromagnetic compatibility in hospital corridors

The proposal that electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in healthcare be fostered by using a free-space minimal-separation criterion between radio frequency (RF) sources of given power and medical devices of given immunity is evaluated. Electric fields within various corridors of a hospital were measured and the residuals of the fields from both slow-fade characteristics, and from free-space field predictions were computed. Measured fields tended to be similar to free-space predictions, except (1) within regions closer than about 7 m from the source, (2) within a below ground corridor, and (3) within a wood-furniture-filled corridor. Generally, the results supported the usage of the free-space minimal-separations, except in below ground corridors