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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steve Rubakh who wrote (413)	11/12/1997 6:15:00 AM
From: STLMD	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9818

Steve; the questioning of the hospital and medical systems in the media is undoubtedly the correct way to proceed as we unfold the extent of embedded chip failure in Y2K. However, to hype the manslaughter charges against MDs is just that, hype. I am in the process of meeting with our IS VP and going through the Y2k systems in our large hospital system to make sure that these life support systems are compliant. We have not found any blood gas analyzer, any ventilator, any laboratory equipment that is noncompliant or even date sensitive for that matter. Forget the IV infusion pumps, not date sensitive. Defibrillators also are not Y2K sensitive except for those that have built in chips for maintence and upkeep(very few but you have to check). The ICU monitors may have some problems with date but function well. The interface with the mainIT/IS systems for reporting information may be the BUG here and needs testing. The bar coding of expiration packaging from the pharmaceutical industry and the delivery systems all require attention. The payment interface(all electronic now by the way) between hospitals and physicians on one hand and HCFA on the other is of major concern especially if the flow of data and monies is interuppted. I suggest we use the remarkable talent on this thread and the TPRO thread to contact those we know in all of our social,financial and infrastructure areas and begin a dialogue, closely followed by an assessment of our own and their particular industries,utilities etc. Continue to post media coverage because this is important to getting the message out and begin our own personal experience assessment phase in our own lives.Stephen

To: Steve Rubakh who wrote (413)	11/12/1997 7:57:00 AM
From: Steve Rubakh	Respond to of 9818

YR2K' effect on Post Office operations Post Office invests œ8 million By Giles Turnbull, Technology Correspondent, PA News The UK Post Office has invested œ8 million in technology to help it stave off the worst of the possible year 2000 dangers. The money has gone into a computer test centre, purpose-built so that the organisation's systems can be thoroughly tested for Y2K compliance without interrupting normal routines. Opening the new centre in Farnborough, chief executive John Roberts said: "The Year 2000 is one of the biggest issues currently faced by businesses. "The nation relies on The Post Office for a host of vital services. We are determined to work as hard as we can to avoid any potential problems that the year 2000 may pose for computers. "The Year 2000 issue has the potential to affect virtually every aspect of our services. "Only through technology can The Post Office provide its huge variety of services which customers nationwide need. That is why we are taking the Year 2000 so seriously." The potential problem could affect almost every business in the UK, he said. "The Year 2000 is not a technical issue." said Mr Roberts. "It is a business issue. There are very few issues that can bring a business to a halt. "The Year 2000 is the first one I've come across. Testing is a key element in minimising the risk of system failure. In fact, industry watchers say testing is around 60 to 70 per cent of the Year 2000 effort. "Our deadline for completing this project is the end of 1998 to allow for a full year's operation before the millennium." The Post Office's four main businesses - Royal Mail, Parcelforce, Post Office Counters Ltd, and Subscription Services Ltd - use four mainframes, several hundred mid-range computer systems, and thousands of PCs and embedded systems. David Cunningham, who heads the new centre said: "This test centre will allow The Post Office to replicate the majority of its existing systems and will be used both to test the upgrade of the infrastructure and applications to Year 2000 compliance."