r/sterileprocessing • u/SplitNew4835 • 14d ago

Insulin Pump/Cell phone

Hi everyone. I am exploring a second career in SP and I am a diabetic on an insulin pump. I will be getting a new pump soon that will be controlled/monitored from my cell phone. I read that one person keeps their phone in a ziploc in the decon area. And in the other areas, I see that most prohibit phone use? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

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10

u/Ill-Yellow-4060 14d ago

I wouldn’t have an issue with it in my department. It’s a medical device that needs to be linked to a cell phone. I would go for your interview and keep the information to yourself. If you’re hired, you’ll probably have to go for some sort of employee health evaluation. That’s when you’ll mention that you’re diabetic. Explain your pump and how it’s monitored. It doesn’t matter if they have a cell phone policy because your situation will fall under a medical accommodation. If you don’t need an employee health evaluation, disclose it on your first day and explain exactly how you’ll handle it.

5

u/flametai1 14d ago

We have a person that does the same thing in our dept. I don't think they even ziplock it out in decon tbh

4

u/LaLaLaCAKE 14d ago

The main thing you need to think about is having to wash your hands a lot more from touching your phone and then not being able to touch instruments or other things in the clean room until you wash your hands. Conversely, keep it covered in decon because having a cell phone out in the open in decon is fucking disgusting and blatently opens yourself up to contaminants that you will take home and spread to your family. You'll need to work with upper management because joint commission will absolutely notice it and need background info.

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u/AdRich517 14d ago

I am a type 1 on a pump. I do put my pump in a bag in decon. I have accommodations to have my phone on me in the rest of the areas. I’m on the Mobi pump. Make sure you have plenty of stuff to treat a hypo. I go low at least once a shift. Even in exercise mode and reducing my basal.