Here is a scary thought, convalecent homes. Lots of medical equipment, complicated records kept on computer, supplies order via computer these day. Any comment?

Annie O'Dea

-- Annie O'Dea (tarotmaid@yahoo.com), October 16, 1998

Answers

One of the guys in my group just left a Y2K project at a major hospital. He says much medical equipment seems to have problems. Didn't work there, so I can't say myself, but he did say he would not be in a hospital for any reason on Y-day.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), October 16, 1998.

Selected References on Medical Devices/Systems

Year 2000 Will Affect IV Pumps A Computerized Alarm Will Make It Think It Hasn't Been Recalibrated Since 1900. Frederick Kohun at Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh says about a half-a-million hospitals nationwide use a $19 pump that is set up to be recalibrated every six months to ensure proper flow of the IV. The pumps will shut off in 2000 because a computerized alarm will think they haven't been recalibrated since 1900. - http://www.newsnet5.com/news/stories/news-981012-052247.html

What Hardware & Software is Claimed by the Manufacturers to be Year 2000 Compliant? (Includes Embedded Systems and Health-related) - http://www.support2000.com/mpos.htm#health

Y2K: the biggest bug infecting hospitals - http://www.afr.com.au/content/981014/survey/survey6.html

Bill offers immunity to spur Y2K compliance - http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/amnews/pick_98/y2ka1005.htm

FDA Activities Related to the Year 2000 Date Problem and Medical Devices - http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/yr2000/ipyr2000.html

FDA Biomedical Equipment Y2K Status Search - http://www.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/year2000/y2k_search.cfm

Healthcare Y2K Compliance Clearinghouse Searchable Database - http://www.knowledgeuniverse.org/y2k/y2ksearch1.htm

Note: PBX systems are _critical_ in the health-care systems (another can of bugs).

-- Jon Miles (jon@milesresearch.com), October 16, 1998.

Here's another thought. What are the convalecent homes going to do with their patients when the medicaid and medicare checks don't come in?

-- Louise (~~~~~~@~~~~.~~~), October 16, 1998.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer just ran an article about our hospital's LACK OF y2k compliance,,,,NONE ARE...scarey stuff, i like paul dont wanna be on life support come the rollover

-- cleve ohio (p@aol.com), October 16, 1998.

If at all possible, it seems that this may be a time to consider bringing the elderly back into the family home. It may be one of the first "burdens" that we'll be facing, but what IS the practical alternative?

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@ptd.net), October 16, 1998.

The elderly may well be worth their weight in gold, if they're intellectually competent. They've lived without power and telecom and often even banks and no doubt have lots of priceless advice. I've got my fingers crossed that Mom will decide to come home next year, I know that she'll be able to think of things I've missed. She also has gardening and canning experience for more years than I've lived. Bringing the elderly home may be a very wise move!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), October 16, 1998.

In related news, the Surgeon General today reiterated his confidence in the Y2K readiness of U.S. hospitals; in fact, to demonstrate his faith that health-care computer systems will not fail, he plans to be in critical care on the night of Dec. 31st, 1999. "I, personally, will be taken ill shortly before the century rollover," he said. "Deathly, deathly ill. And I will be treated and released. It will be business as usual."

-- anon (anon@anon.com), October 16, 1998.

Marquette Electronics, a huge Milwakee medical equipment maker was just sold for over $800 million. They sold their products worldwide. GE bought them out. An insider told me that they have been battling Y2K for years. Looks like they had to give up.

I'm in my mid-seventies; grew up in a big family during the depression. I pray every day that I may live long enough to guide my kids and grand-kids through the coming mess.

I can show them how to garden, can the produce, butcher, heat with wood, light with kerosene lamps and all that good stuff we took for granted when we were kids. Our house had no plumbing, no electricty, no furnace. But room enough to raise ten healthy kids who were poor, but didn't know it!

Hull

-- Hull Stetson (stetson.hull@usa.net), October 17, 1998.

It's true that the elderly will be an asset if they still have their mental capacities. However who will take care of the alzheimers patients? How ugly will this get? Will we just start mercy killing those people who are no longer useful? After all, they're just using up precious food. Heaven help us!

-- Louise (~~~~~@~~~~.~~~), October 20, 1998.

My sister is a pharmacist who works for a firm in Chicago area that fills prescriptions for 500-1000 nursing care facilities, and much of the scripts filled are medicare connected. She told me on the phone the other day that if they are out of phone and power for more than 3 days it's all over for the company, and heaven help the residents/patients at the nursing homes that are dependent on life-sustaining pharmaceuticals. Telephones, fax and computers are their business,...supply line interruptions factored in create the end of that business.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 20, 1998.