Year 2000 poses critical challenges for health care
For health care organizations, year 2000 (Y2K) compliance is critical to avoid life-threatening disasters.
In addition to the hardware and software issues that all industries face, health care providers have to consider Y2K issues for every piece of medical equipment that is date-aware, ranging from IV pumps to centrifuges.
The need is especially critical since the risks can affect patients’ well-being. Companies must also ensure their vendor supply chain is Y2K compliant, experts say.
"Health care organizations have traditionally been one of the slowest responders in regard to Y2K," says Jim Klein, research director at the Gartner Group, in Stamford, CT.
Gartner research shows health care organizations have budgeted, on average, less than $5 million for Y2K projects — about one-third of the amount believed necessary when legal fees, contingency plans, business continuity expenses, and project management costs are taken into account.
Sheldon I. Dorenfest & Associates, a health care consultancy in Chicago, notes that resources will be harder to find as the deadline nears.
Consequently, information technology professionals with the experience needed to help solve Y2K problems will continue to be in great demand.
Y2K-relevant Web sites
• American Academy of Family Physicians: http://www.aafp.org/fpnet/y2k
• American Medical Association: http://www.ama-assn.org (search Y2K)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/yr2000
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content