Pittsburgh-area hospital system bans ‘Pokemon Go'

PITTSBURGH — A local hospital system is saying "no" to "Pokemon Go."

Allegheny Health Network contacted the makers of the game to demand that they remove all of its locations from smartphone apps, Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE reported.

TribLIVE obtained an internal memo sent to Allegheny Health Network employees, which reads in part:

"The presence of Pokémon Go players in our facilities compromises physical safety, patient privacy, computer security, and personal safety."

"Watch out for people walking around focused on their smartphone virtual world and not on their immediate surroundings - which is a concern for patients and visitors in our facilities."

The memo also instructs employees to report anyone seen taking unauthorized pictures.

Allegheny Health Network includes Allegheny General Hospital, West Penn Hospital, Forbes Hospital, Allegheny Valley Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, Canonsburg Hospital and Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie.

A spokesperson told Channel 11 News that Allegheny Health Network has not had any trouble, but wants to prevent any potential problems.

“Why should they be wandering in the hospital, you know what I mean? They have patients in there. They can't have people in there looking for the Pokemon. That's crazy,” Ronald Craig said.

A spokesperson for UPMC told Channel 11 News that there has been no impact on its facilities.

The Pokemon app, which was released earlier this month, has become the country's most popular mobile game of all time.

Cox Media Group