A system for programming an implanted medical device comprising: a medical device configured to be implanted within in a body of a patient; the medical device including electrical circuitry to provide treatment to the patient; a first digital storage area for holding normal operation instructions and settings, a second digital storage area for holding temporary operating instructions and settings, a communications subsystem and a timing subsystem; a repeater external of the patient's body, the repeater including a communication subsystem configured to communicate with the communications subsystem of the medical device and with a programming device; the medical device and the repeater remotely located from the programming device; the medical device configured to provide therapy to the patient using the normal operation instructions and settings stored in the first digital storage area; characterized in that the repeater is configured to transmit temporary operation instructions and settings to the medical device for storage in the second digital storage area; the repeater is configured to instruct the medical device to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient; wherein after the medical device has begun delivering therapy using the temporary operation instructions and settings, the medical device is reverted to the normal operation instructions and settings if the medical device fails to receive a generally continuous continuation signal from the repeater during a first predetermined period of time, wherein the generally continuous continuation signal includes poll and response communications, wherein the medical device is configured to revert to delivery of therapy to the patient based on the normal operation instructions if the medical device does not receive a periodic continuation signal from the repeater during a second predetermined period of time, wherein the repeater is configured to query the medical device one or several times a day during the second period of time to avoid reverting to delivery of therapy to the patient based on the normal operation instructions. a medical device configured to be implanted within in a body of a patient; the medical device including electrical circuitry to provide treatment to the patient; a first digital storage area for holding normal operation instructions and settings, a second digital storage area for holding temporary operating instructions and settings, a communications subsystem and a timing subsystem; a repeater external of the patient's body, the repeater including a communication subsystem configured to communicate with the communications subsystem of the medical device and with a programming device; the medical device and the repeater remotely located from the programming device; the medical device configured to provide therapy to the patient using the normal operation instructions and settings stored in the first digital storage area; characterized in that the repeater is configured to transmit temporary operation instructions and settings to the medical device for storage in the second digital storage area; the repeater is configured to instruct the medical device to use the temporary operating instructions and settings to deliver therapy to the patient; wherein after the medical device has begun delivering therapy using the temporary operation instructions and settings, the medical device is reverted to the normal operation instructions and settings if the medical device fails to receive a generally continuous continuation signal from the repeater during a first predetermined period of time, wherein the generally continuous continuation signal includes poll and response communications, wherein the medical device is configured to revert to delivery of therapy to the patient based on the normal operation instructions if the medical device does not receive a periodic continuation signal from the repeater during a second predetermined period of time, wherein the repeater is configured to query the medical device one or several times a day during the second period of time to avoid reverting to delivery of therapy to the patient based on the normal operation instructions.