Frequently Asked Questions — Pocket Telephones
Service Overview
A PT is a wireless phone you can use in many parts of the Stanford Hospital and the School of Medicine. Dialing and features on these phones work much the same as your desktop Stanford telephone, but offer the added benefit of allowing you to remain mobile while placing or receiving calls.
Cost of Service: A PT can cost between $700.00 and $1,000.00, depending upon accessories. This price includes the set itself, battery packs and chargers, carrying cases, and optional headsets. See Rates section on pocket telephones.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do PTs work?
2. Why use PTs at Stanford Hospital and in the School of Medicine?
3. Has the PT system been tested here at Stanford?
4. Where can I use a PT?
5. I need to go between sites at Stanford and San Francisco. Can I use my PT on the road?
6. Can I get cellular or PCS service cheaper?
7. How can I order PT service?
- How do PTs work?
Communication Services has placed small ceiling antennas throughout the Stanford Medical Center. These antennas allow your PT to connect to the Stanford telephone system. Typically, your PT would sit in a charging unit near your desktop set. When you are leaving your desk, you can take your PT with you and use it to place or receive calls while performing other tasks that require you to move about the Hospital.
- Why use PTs at Stanford Hospital and in the School of Medicine?
The PT system was designed specifically for use in hospitals. Unlike public cellular or PCS service, PTs generate low power levels and do not interfere with sensitive medical equipment (e.g., pacemakers, medical telemetry equipment). Stanford's system has been designed for use inside many Stanford Hospital buildings and works directly with the Stanford telephone system.
- Has the PT system been tested here at Stanford?
Communication Services recently tested the service with Materials Management and several nursing units. Among the evaluation criteria were productivity, performance and ease of use. Overall, the PTs performed well and demonstrated the following:
- Staff spent less time searching for a phone to return a page.
- Staff could be reached directly more often, without exchanging voice mail messages.
- Staff spent less time hunting down mobile co-workers who needed to take a call.
Additionally, having the PT system integrated with the Stanford telephone system allowed for simpler dialing and feature usage procedures.
Overall, the evidence gathered supported the perception that many patient and client care issues could be more efficiently handled with the aid of PTs.
- Where can I use a PT?
Today, you can use a Stanford PT in the main core of Stanford Hospital, in HMP, and in D&T. This includes nursing areas, administrative areas and Boswell clinics. LPCH is not currently covered by the system, but this could change depending on identified needs within the next several months. There is coverage in School of Medicine buildings within the Stone complex, including Grant, Edwards, Alway (Science) and Lane Library. Outlying buildings, such as the Beckman, Fairchild, Falk, MSOB, Hoover, Blake Wilbur, Hanover, and Quarry and Welch Road buildings, are not covered.
- I need to go between sites at Stanford and San Francisco. Can I use my PT on the road?
No. PTs will only work in areas with installed antennas. You would still need pubic cellular or PCS service to place or receive calls when outside covered buildings or at the San Francisco campus.
- Can I get cellular or PCS service cheaper?
That really depends on how you use the phone and what cellular service you are considering. During the pilot program, the average PT set was used over 700 minutes per month - this translates into an expensive cellular package on a comparative basis. Even factoring in the more expensive set cost for the PT, often the service will be less expensive over several months than cellular/PCS, because of usage charges.
- How can I order PT service?
There is one difference to the PT system from many of the other services offered and maintained by CS - you or a member of your department must first order the actual set, then contact CS to establish service.
To order a set:
- Nursing staff should speak to managers or the regional OA.
- Staff in Materials Management should contact Victor Dumlao.
- Staff from other Stanford Hospital departments should contact David Hall in Hospital Purchasing.
- Clients in the School of Medicine should contact their Department IT Contact.
To sign up for service:
- Speak with your Department IT Contact. He or she will contact the Stanford IT Help Desk at 5-HELP to set up new service.
NOTE: You must have received your PT set before IT Services can establish service. We need the PTO's serial number to process the service order.
