Hospitals declare
Y2K readiness

Assure patients they will be safe

Healthcare members have spent
$92 million to locate and
solve any problems

Kuakini pact reached

By Leila Fujimori
Star-Bulletin

For Kaiser Hospital, Y2K readiness meant checking 4,000 pieces of biomedical equipment.

But only 150 pieces or less than 1 percent of the equipment had to be upgraded or corrected, said Bonnie Reilly, Kaiser's Year 2000 project coordinator.

"It didn't turn out to be the problem we thought it would be a year ago," Reilly said. "Most biomedical equipment is not affected by a date function, so it doesn't affect how the equipment functions."

Kaiser is one of 32 members of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, which said yesterday that its members -- all Hawaii's hospitals and two-thirds of its long-term care facilities -- are Y2K ready.

Association members spent $92 million and a large amount of personnel resources in the past two to four years to prepare for any possible problems associated with the turn of the millennium, said its president and chief executive officer, Richard E. Meiers.

"Our association members have made an extraordinary effort to identify and scrutinize all aspects of their equipment and operations to ensure patient safety," said Meiers. "They also have extensive contingency plans in place just in case external disruptions occur."

Kaiser's massive Y2K contingency plan covers everything from patient care to paying employees with manually written checks.

Kaiser opted against stockpiling. But Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children will have extra provisions on hand, such as additional water, just in case.

The association and Oahu Civil Defense are preparing to deal with any problems on New Year's Eve by setting up a communications hub for hospitals in the Honolulu Municipal Building.

The Emergency Operating Center will link Hawaii hospitals to a national command center in Washington D.C., that will be watching hospitals for any potential problems.

"If we experience any problems, we would be able to flash to that center and get the word out to other hospitals," Meiers said.

"We are fortunate to be in the last time zone," he said.

Hospitals as well as the command center will have staff on hand ready to handle any problems, although they are confident their facilities are ready, Meiers said. No Y2K problems have occurred within the last couple of weeks and association members will be on the lookout for potential problems beyond 2 a.m. on New Year's Day.

"So much of our equipment won't be used until the 4th, 5th or 6th since most people don't want to have elective surgeries during the holidays," Meiers said.

Kapiolani's Year 2000 project manager, Carol Alevizos, said the hospital will do periodic checks throughout the year. In addition to updating its computer systems, Kapiolani has alternate plans in place to work around any outside problems that might occur. For example, if the telephone company has problems, the hospital is equipped with alternate phone systems.

Pat Oda, Kapiolani's spokeswoman, said, "When you're a hospital, you have to be ready." Backup generators are standard. And Hawaii Civil Defense prepares hospital staff by staging annual practice drills, rushing fake wounded to emergency rooms for treatment.

What surprised Kaiser's Reilly most is that "there has been very little public interest in our Y2K plans," she said. But Kaiser will have its customer service department open on Jan. 1.

And she gave this assurance to people: "Their loved ones are safe in Hawaii's hospitals on New Year's Eve. I don't think there's cause for concern."