Greetings all...

Missed the past few days of postings due to an unexpected case of appendicitis. The time, however, was not wasted in my journey. (Forgive me if the post rambles a bit or the spelling is off, the Percocet is a lovely but oh so harsh haze to work in) Anywho, Couple of interesting things spotted in the E.R. while awaiting transport to the O.R. 1) ALL of the computers in the Hospital (Brigham & Womens in Boston Ma.) were the newest and most updated Pentium 3 Compaq models available. Asked the medic and he stated that the whole hospital had recently replaced EVERY PC in the place. 2) As I waited in the Pre-Op waiting room, the Hospitals Y2K compliance guys rolled in a PC to check vcompliance on the PC's right there in the Pre-Op area. I was kinda impressed with it, as in the way the nurses said "Not again...." and laughted. It seem theyt were very used to having the internal checks done frequesntly. 3) After I (somewhat) recovered, I noticed that the Infusion pum,p thatr the nurses had my morphine/IV drip hooked to DID NOT have one of the Y2K compliant stickers on it, but that it had a inspection sticker with a date of 12/99 on it. I recall that someone a while back posted on Infusion pumps and other such equipment needing to be Y2K compliant. Anyway, I did a little more snoopin and poopin round the room, and noticed that the nurses station had Y2K alert schedules and plans pending posted on the bulletin board. Just thought I'd post this, Judging from this that I saw, I'd feel a little more confident about my primary healthcarew Centre now, having seen this stuff myself. Take care still prepping with 62+/-

-- Billy Boy (Rakkasan@Yahoo.com), October 30, 1999

Answers

<Just thought I'd post this, Judging from this that I saw, I'd feel a little more confident about my primary healthcare ... now, having seen this stuff myself. >

ROFLMAO - Read this GAO 10/21/99 report from last week: "Compliance Status Information on Biomedical Devices" ... and you won't feel so good.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/ai00026t.pdf

IT'S FRIGHTENING!!! Apparently a lot of the medical device compliance info on FDA site was not valid. Which probably doesn't matter anyway, since fewer than 25% of healthcare providers even bothered to access the site.

My neighbor was a V.P. for one of California's largest HMO's. She and I have been learning how to "can" together. Her husband just upgraded their generator.

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), October 30, 1999.

I'm right there with ya on this one, Billy Boy. I developed appendicis (pretty severe) EXACTLY one year ago today! In fact, for three days prior I walked around with what I thought was some kind of weird indigestion and kept taking TUMS! Anyway, I won't go into the gory details, but my appendectomy came two weeks to the day after another emergency surgery of a female nature. Sheesh. I was none too happy. Even a year ago, I noticed these little stickers on the equipment that said "Y2K OK".

What the appendectomy did for me was make me realize how important emergency medicine is. I mean, jeez, what if Y2K *is* pretty bad, and your appendix didn't decide to bug you until after things were bad? At the time, my dad thought all the Y2K stuff was pretty funny and the whole time I'm waiting on the bed in the ER, he keeps joking about how now my BODY would be ready for Y2K. Ha ha ha ha.

Welp, one less worry for you, right?

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), October 30, 1999.

Yeah, the thought had crossed my doomer-inclined mind... This's the one thing that I really did worry about as far as potential emergency-natured stuff went that is. The whole family lost the old appendix between 28-32 yrs old, mom+dad, grandparents ectectect. Had me alittle worried, but *pop* and whoop! there it is! A successful delivery of a 20 Oz chunk o nasty, just in time delivery Yuck-Yuck Yuckity Yuck!!! Like ya said, one less thing ta worry about!

-- Billy Boy (Rakkasan@Yahoo.com), October 30, 1999.