A system for programming an implantable medical device adapted to provide a therapeutic output to a patient, said implantable medical device being programmable through a telemetry interface of said implantable medical device, comprising: a telemetry head adapted for programming the implantable medical device programmable through said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device, said telemetry head comprising: a telemetry interface complementary with said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device and adapted to provide transcutaneous telemetry with said implantable medical device when said telemetry head is positioned with respect to said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device; computing instructions associated with said telemetry head related to programming of said implantable medical device; a communication link capable of communication between said telemetry head and a computing device having computer processing power; wherein said telemetry head makes said computing instructions available to said computing device so that said computing device processes said computing instructions associated with said telemetry head and provides a user with a user interface relative to programming of said implantable medical device and so that said computing device computes programming instructions based, in part, upon said computing instructions received from said telemetry head and, in part, on input from said user interface; and wherein said telemetry head is adapted to receive said programming instructions from said computing device; and wherein said telemetry head is adapted to provide said programming instructions to said implantable medical device using said transcutaneous telemetry interface. a telemetry head adapted for programming the implantable medical device programmable through said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device, said telemetry head comprising: a telemetry interface complementary with said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device and adapted to provide transcutaneous telemetry with said implantable medical device when said telemetry head is positioned with respect to said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device; computing instructions associated with said telemetry head related to programming of said implantable medical device; a communication link capable of communication between said telemetry head and a computing device having computer processing power; wherein said telemetry head makes said computing instructions available to said computing device so that said computing device processes said computing instructions associated with said telemetry head and provides a user with a user interface relative to programming of said implantable medical device and so that said computing device computes programming instructions based, in part, upon said computing instructions received from said telemetry head and, in part, on input from said user interface; and wherein said telemetry head is adapted to receive said programming instructions from said computing device; and wherein said telemetry head is adapted to provide said programming instructions to said implantable medical device using said transcutaneous telemetry interface. a telemetry interface complementary with said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device and adapted to provide transcutaneous telemetry with said implantable medical device when said telemetry head is positioned with respect to said telemetry interface of said implantable medical device; computing instructions associated with said telemetry head related to programming of said implantable medical device; a communication link capable of communication between said telemetry head and a computing device having computer processing power; wherein said telemetry head makes said computing instructions available to said computing device so that said computing device processes said computing instructions associated with said telemetry head and provides a user with a user interface relative to programming of said implantable medical device and so that said computing device computes programming instructions based, in part, upon said computing instructions received from said telemetry head and, in part, on input from said user interface; and wherein said telemetry head is adapted to receive said programming instructions from said computing device; and wherein said telemetry head is adapted to provide said programming instructions to said implantable medical device using said transcutaneous telemetry interface.