Health care providers are accusing medical device makers of leaving them in a potential lurch come year 2000 by failing to give them sufficient warning that their equipment could fail to function. The devices include monitors, defibrillators and electrocardiogram recorders.
Some manufacturers are ominously quiet.
Messages from Rx2000 members citing date problems with the medical devices that were published on the organization's Web site prompted the FDA warning. Junker said some device manufacturers had been very frank about the problem, warning customers months ago. IT leaders Industry observers noted that the problem doesn't put patients at risk, because it doesn't interfere with the operation of the equipment. However, it could cause problems down the road. The agency is still investigating whether other manufacturers' products have the problem and whether or not the makers will offer a fix.