Hospital Proximities to Nearby Broadcast Stations

Abstract

A technique for identifying hospital locations which are potentially subject to high intensity radio­ frequency fields from nearby broadcast stations is discussed. A medical care facilities data base representing 27 percent of all existing such facili­ ties in the United States was used in conjunction with an automated broadcast station data base to determine and analyze distances between hospitals and nearby stations. It was determined that 20 percent of all hospitals are located within one mile of at least one FM broadcast station. The closest observed separation distance was 0.02 mile. Data are presented which allow determination of the fraction of hospitals having minimum separation distances ̂ various values for AM, FM, and TV stations. Information is provided on the number of such stations found within one mile of each hospital studied and the total effective radiated power of these stations.