Jordan Ellis
The location-based augmented reality mobile game Pokemon Go has players searching in real-world locations for Pokestops where they can find and capture Pokemon. While these stops are often located in public spaces such as memorials, museums, and parks, they are sometimes found on hospital grounds. This has led to a mixed response from hospitals, with some embracing the trend and encouraging young patients to play as part of their physical therapy, while others have implemented bans on playing the game on hospital premises due to concerns about safety, privacy, and maintaining a peaceful healing environment.
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What You'll Learn
Increased footfall and disruption to patients
The presence of Pokestops near hospitals has been a cause for concern for healthcare facilities due to increased footfall and the potential disruption to patients. The location-based augmented reality game Pokemon Go requires players to physically go to Pokestops, which are often located in popular public places, to collect items and capture Pokemon. As a result, hospitals have experienced an influx of players on their premises, causing a range of issues.
One of the main concerns is the potential disruption to patient care. The increased footfall in certain areas of the hospital, such as emergency rooms, can interfere with the smooth provision of healthcare services. This is especially problematic when players enter restricted areas of the hospital, as reported by the Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The presence of additional individuals in these areas can create obstacles for staff and impact the timely delivery of treatment to patients.
The increase in visitors specifically for the purpose of playing Pokemon Go can also lead to safety and security issues within the hospital premises. Unauthorized access to certain areas, as players try to sneak into restricted zones, poses a risk to both the players themselves and the patients. This was a significant concern for a children's hospital, where the safety of young patients is paramount. Additionally, the concentration of players absorbed in the game and wandering around the hospital with their smartphones can create opportunities for accidents and injuries.
The large number of players congregating near hospitals can also impact the peaceful and healing environment that healthcare facilities strive to maintain. The noise, distractions, and potential for late-night gatherings can disturb patients who require rest and a calm atmosphere for their recovery. Furthermore, the use of smartphone cameras by players has raised concerns about patient privacy. While taking photographs within the game is not a direct HIPAA violation, there is a risk of unauthorized image-sharing or device loss, which could lead to patient privacy breaches.
To address these issues, some hospitals have implemented bans on playing Pokemon Go on their premises, while others have contacted Niantic, the game developer, to request the removal of Pokestops from their locations. However, it is important to note that not all hospitals are opposed to the game. Some hospitals, like Chambersburg Hospital in Pennsylvania, encourage individuals to play the game outside the hospital as a form of exercise.
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Security issues and safety concerns
One of the main security issues is the potential obstruction of emergency services and interference with their ability to perform normal operations. Hospitals have reported instances where deeply absorbed players, following their phones, have wandered into restricted areas, such as near a hospital's helipad, or even into the path of oncoming vehicles. This not only poses a risk to the players themselves but could also delay emergency responses and hinder the ability of emergency services to function effectively.
The sheer volume of unauthorized visitors has also raised security concerns for hospitals. The presence of numerous individuals, especially in patient care areas, could potentially compromise patient privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, the increased foot traffic may heighten the risk of infections for patients, particularly with the added concern of germ exposure.
To address these issues, some hospitals have implemented measures such as requesting players to avoid their campuses or outright banning the game from being played on-site. Others have prohibited their staff from playing while on hospital premises. These steps aim to maintain a peaceful healing environment and ensure the safety and well-being of patients, visitors, and staff.
While Pokémon Go has been praised for encouraging exercise and providing a source of entertainment, particularly for hospitalized children, balancing this with security and safety considerations is crucial. Healthcare facilities must navigate the challenges posed by the game's popularity to ensure they can continue to provide uninterrupted care and maintain a secure environment for all stakeholders.
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Bandwidth concerns and blocked Wi-Fi
The popularity of Pokémon Go has resulted in an influx of players to hospitals, which are often chosen as PokéStops. This has raised concerns about safety, privacy, and the maintenance of a peaceful healing environment for patients. As a result, some hospitals have chosen to block Pokémon Go on their guest Wi-Fi networks.
Bandwidth concerns are a significant reason for blocking Pokémon Go on hospital Wi-Fi. The game requires a large amount of data, and hospitals want to ensure that their Wi-Fi networks are not overwhelmed by the high bandwidth usage of the game. This is especially important for hospitals, as they rely on stable and fast internet connections for critical operations and patient care.
Blocking Pokémon Go on hospital Wi-Fi does not prevent players from using their mobile data plans to access the game. However, it helps manage the hospital's network resources and ensures that the Wi-Fi remains reliable and accessible for patients, visitors, and staff who need it for other purposes.
In addition to bandwidth concerns, hospitals also have security and privacy considerations. Unauthorized individuals trying to access PokéStops located in restricted areas of hospitals have raised security concerns. Patient privacy is another critical factor, especially with the augmented reality aspects of the game. Hospitals want to prevent unauthorized access to patient areas and ensure that patient information remains confidential.
While blocking Pokémon Go on hospital Wi-Fi can address some of these concerns, it is not a comprehensive solution. Players can still access the game using their mobile data, and hospitals must rely on alternative measures to address safety, security, and privacy issues associated with the game's popularity.
Overall, the decision to block Pokémon Go on hospital Wi-Fi is a result of balancing the needs of patients, visitors, and staff with the demands placed on the hospital's network infrastructure by the game's popularity. By managing bandwidth usage, hospitals can ensure that their Wi-Fi networks remain stable and secure while still providing access to essential services and information for those who need it.
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Patient privacy and data protection
The popularity of mobile games like Pokemon Go has raised concerns about patient privacy and data protection in hospitals. Hospitals have implemented policies to prevent staff from playing such games in the workplace and requested visitors to refrain from doing so on the hospital campus. The issue of patient privacy is not limited to the potential distraction of staff and overcrowding in emergency departments but also extends to the violation of patient confidentiality. Players attempting to take pictures of game icons could inadvertently capture sensitive patient information, compromising HIPAA compliance.
To address these concerns, hospitals have adopted various measures. Some hospitals have chosen to prohibit staff and visitors from engaging in such games on their premises, while others have implemented regulations governing participation while on duty or on campus. Additionally, hospitals have requested game designers to avoid creating game attributes, such as Pokestops, on their campuses. These steps aim to balance the benefits of the game for patients, particularly in children's hospitals, while mitigating potential drawbacks.
Covered entities, including healthcare providers and their business associates, must put in place safeguards to protect health information and prevent improper use or disclosure. They must also limit access to patient data based on an individual's role in healthcare. For instance, a laboratory technologist would only need access to a patient's laboratory record and not their entire medical history. Patients have the right to examine and obtain copies of their health records and request corrections if needed. Additionally, patients can decide if they want to give permission for their health information to be used or shared for specific purposes, such as marketing.
In summary, the presence of popular mobile games like Pokemon Go near hospitals has highlighted the importance of patient privacy and data protection. Hospitals have implemented policies and regulations to address these concerns, while also striving to balance the potential benefits of such games for patients. Additionally, federal laws like HIPAA provide individuals with rights over their health information and mandate the protection of patient data by covered entities. These measures ensure that patient privacy and data protection are maintained in the evolving landscape of healthcare technology.
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Inappropriate behaviour and media attention
The popularity of the mobile game, Pokemon Go, has resulted in an increase in foot traffic around hospitals due to the presence of Pogo Stops, which offer in-game items to players. While some hospitals have embraced the game, recognising its potential to help patients, particularly children, stay connected and active, others have expressed concerns about inappropriate behaviour and media attention.
One of the main concerns is the potential for distracted employees and the impact on patient privacy. With an increase in foot traffic, there is a higher risk of players taking photographs or capturing footage that could inadvertently include patients or sensitive information, compromising patient confidentiality. This has led to hospitals implementing policies to prevent staff from playing the game during work hours and requesting visitors to refrain from playing on the hospital campus.
In addition to privacy concerns, the influx of players can result in overcrowding, particularly in emergency departments, which may block access for emergency vehicles and hinder the timely delivery of critical care. Hospitals have also reported issues with staff distraction, as the presence of Pogo Stops and the self-reinforcing nature of the game, where more players lead to more Pogo Stops, can divert employees' attention from their duties, impacting patient care and potentially violating regulations.
The media attention generated by the game's popularity can further exacerbate these issues. Media coverage may attract even more players to hospitals, creating additional challenges for staff and potentially impacting the hospital's ability to provide uninterrupted care. Furthermore, negative media attention could arise from incidents of inappropriate behaviour by players, such as trespassing in restricted areas or disrupting hospital operations, reflecting poorly on the hospital and potentially damaging its reputation.
To address these concerns, hospitals are encouraged to adopt clear policies regulating the use of Pokemon Go on their premises. This includes requesting game designers to exclude hospitals as Pogo Stops and working with players and staff to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all, allowing hospitals to balance the potential benefits of the game with the need to maintain privacy, security, and uninterrupted patient care.
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Frequently asked questions
The locations of PokéStops in Pokémon Go are based on user-contributed locations from the game Ingress. This has resulted in PokéStops being located near hospitals.
Hospitals have raised concerns about safety, privacy, and maintaining a peaceful healing environment. Some hospitals have banned playing the game on their premises, while others have blocked it on their Wi-Fi or requested the removal of PokéStops from their grounds.
Some hospitals have embraced Pokémon Go as a form of physical therapy for young patients and a way to encourage individuals to exercise outdoors.
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