Need More Information?
Malcolm H. Morrison, Morrison Infor matics, 1150 Lancaster Blvd., Suite 101, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. Telephone: (717) 795-8410. Fax: (717) 795-8420. E-mail: informatic@informaticinc.com. Web: http://www.informaticinc.com.
Start checking computers for Y2K compliance
Don’t assume anything when determining if your computer hardware and software will work in the year 2000, warns Malcolm Morrison, PhD. President of Morrison Informa tics, a Mech anicsburg, PA, health care information management firm, he advises against taking shortcuts when ensuring the millennium bug won’t hit your facility. Here are some tips for what to do:
• List every piece of hardware and software you use and check off what is compliant. Some identical products have chips from different manufacturers or are made at different times.
• Test to ensure corrections are in place and your computer system will function in 2000.
• Check every PC in the facility. Even if one is OK, there’s no guarantee other PCs will be.
• Assume nothing. Always check. The chance of a code being changed in the interior of a computer is small, but if it doesn’t work correctly, everything on that computer could be lost.
• Start putting pressure on your vendors to make sure their products or upgrades will comply. Some vendors haven’t yet started testing.
• If you buy any kind of computer, computer equipment, or software from a vendor, ensure your contract specifies your purchase is Y2K compliant. Have your legal department spell out exactly what "compliant" means.
Resources to help you cope with Y2K
Here are some sources of information about the year 2000 (Y2K) problem:
o The American Hospital Association (AHA), based in Chicago, has a compiled a manual, Y2K: Mission Critical, an executive briefing that gives details of the problem and steps that hospitals should take to comply.
The manual is available to AHA members by mail or through the "Members Only" section of the AHA World Wide Web site. The cost is $25, plus $6.95 for shipping and handling. Contact the American Hospital Association, One N. Franklin, Chicago, IL 60606. Telephone: (800) AHA-2626. Fax: (312) 422-4505. Web: http://www.aha. org/y2K.
o Rx2000 Solutions Institute is a nonprofit organization that acts as an information clearinghouse on issues relating to Y2K in the health care industry. The organization offers a variety of services to providers, primarily through its World Wide Web site.
For more information, contact: Rx2000 Solutions Institute, 4620 W. 77th St., Suite 245, Minneapolis, MN 55435. Telephone: (612) 835- 4478. Fax: (612) 830-0931. Web: http://www rx2000.org.
Here are some Web sites that offer information on the Y2K problem:
o http://www.it2000.com/. National Bulletin Board for Year 2000. Includes problems, solutions, and an interactive bulletin board.
o http://wwwoirm.nih.gov/y2000/. The National Institute for Health’s Year 2000 Working Group World Wide Web site.
o http://www.is.ufl.edu/bawb015h.htm. University of Florida Y2K Information Center.
o http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/yr2000/year2000. htm. FDA activities related to the year 2000 date problem and medical devices.
o http://www.mbs-program.com/. Year 2000 Information Network, sponsored by a group of software vendors.
o http://mmue.com/year2000/hlthcare.html. Metro Detroit Healthcare Y2K User Group with links to a variety of government, business, organization, and health care Web sites.
o http://www.microsoft.com/technet/topics/year2k/product/product.htm. The Microsoft Year 2000 Resource Center Product Guide with details concerning Microsoft products.
o http://www.year200.com. An information clearinghouse.