' Elevators, fire control systems, security and air conditioning systems need checking,
There appears to be no police or emergency response problems due to the millennium bug issue, say city and county
officials, but there could be serious consequences in the health field if modifications are not finished by the end of next
year. If nothing is done or if systems fail, patient monitoring systems could shut down, including ventilating machines,
officials say.
Elevators, fire control systems, security and air conditioning systems need checking, as well. The project could wind up
costing millions.
''We have contacted all the manufacturers to see which models won't be compliant,'' said Dick Hutsell, a vice president
with Catholic Heath Care West, which manages Mercy, Southwest Mercy, Memorial and San Joaquin Memorial
hospitals in Bakersfield and 33 others. ''We are also going through the process of testing the modifications ourselves to
determine for ourselves if there is a problem.
''There are some things we just can't do anything about until Jan. 1, 2000,'' Hutsell said. ''On some of the equipment
clocks have to be physically reset. While everybody is out celebrating the new year, an army of technicians will be
working in hospitals all night resetting those devices.''
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