nfusion or panic. However, there are no specific strategies in place to handle possiblepatient disorder, other than by answering patient questions on an individual basis.The Y2K problem is not limited to biomedical devices, however. This dilemmaeffects non-medical devices such as the personal computers used in record-keeping andaccounting. If the programs that are used are not corrected, many problems could arise.Even though some patient records are kept in paper form as a backup, most patientinformation, such as test results, medical histories, registration, and insurance informationare kept in computer databases. These databases, if left unchecked for the Y2K problem,could malfunction. Patient information is important to physicians and other hospitalpersonnel using the databases. It is readily available to them at the touch of a keypad. Ifpatient information is inaccurate, it could result in detrimental care or incorrect medicationbeing administered to patients.This dilemma could be solved in one of two ways. One option hospitals have is toput all information on paper, which would be very time consuming and prone to causeerrors, or the database systems can be programmed to be Y2K compatible. In order toaddress the Y2K problem, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Year 2000Information and Readiness Disclosure Act. In a statement by the president released bythe Office of the Press Secretary of the White House, this law requires the sharednecessary information tools needed to overcome the Y2K problem. This will helphospital information systems departments acquire the knowledge necessary to reprogramnoncompliant systems.The personal computer problem not only affects the hospital records department,but also the purchasing, billing, and payroll aspects of the accounting department. The purchase of essential medical equipment and supplies could be delayed if clerical softwareis not brought into Y2K compliance.In addition to...
