As a result, the physician would be unable to sequence test results properly. Even more dire consequences would result if alarms on monitors failed to sound or if a device keeps working but makes small errors that aren't readily detectable. The problem isn't limited to medical devices. Most building systems, such as elevators, heating, security doors and phone switches are controlled by computers. Even if the equipment itself works, it won't be able to function if the computer that controls it fails.
Hospitals also depend heavily on outside suppliers, many of which are computerized.
If those suppliers aren't Y2K compliant, they may not be able to deliver items such as bandages, syringes or drugs. What's more, hospitals are often the first place people turn when there's an emergency in the community. If utilities such as heat, water or electricity fail because of computer glitches, hospitals can expect to gain a lot of new residents while their own capacity is diminished, as happened during last winter's ice storm in Eastern Canada. Millions being spent Armed only with doomsday scenarios, hospitals across Canada have launched multimillion-dollar programs to prepare for the year 2000. Like many others, the hospital has opted to assess every piece of equipment it owns.