Computer Ills May Imperil Patients Aging Systems, Budget Cuts Blamed for Problems at D.C. General

By David A. Vise Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, March 24, 1999; Page B01

The health of patients at D.C. General Hospital is being endangered by massive problems with old computer systems -- some caused by the approaching year 2000 -- and a financial squeeze that could force new cuts in health care services, according to city officials, consultants and internal memos.

In recent months, computer malfunctions have purged information from some patients' electronic files at the hospital and introduced errors into other patients' records, said Kent Gale, executive director of Legacy Systems Inc., a consulting firm hired by the hospital to keep its antiquated computer systems running.

Full story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-03/24/190l-032499-idx.html

-- Norm (nwo@hotmail.com), March 24, 1999

Answers

Thanks Norm. Can you pull today's Wash. Post story about Urban Warrior exercises in Oakland ? You'll find it in the "STYLE" section, with pictures of grinning teenager "Furzian militiamen".

-- KoFE (Your@town.USA), March 24, 1999.

Oops, Norm, you screwed up. You cut n' pasted a *non*-smiley face y2k article.

Your puppet masters are not going to be very pleased by this faux pas. Someone might actually read it and want to *prepare*! We can't have any of that now, as we all know that "preparation equals panic" in our Orwellian world of y2k-speak.

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), March 24, 1999.

Yet again....posting without seeing or participating in the posts already on the board.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000e BZ

Mr. K

-- Mr. Kennedy (already@discussion.here), March 24, 1999.

As you may have guessed, I am not responsible for many of the posts under my name - including this one.

-- Norm (nwo@hotmail.com), March 24, 1999.

Holy Cow! A mis-disinformation campaign!

-- KoFE (Your@town.USA), March 24, 1999.

Yep, Norm, I can see where that could happen.
Mr. K
***honestly giving the benefit of the doubt***

-- Mr. Kennedy (seeit@the.time), March 24, 1999.

yeah KoFE...it turns out Norm is a real doomer, but some asshole has been posting a bunch of happy-face meals in his name. What is this forum coming to?

-- a (a@a.a), March 24, 1999.

Then again, Dave, maybe that was me. I do not really know. See, sometimes I get confused with what these humans are trying to get me to spout out. It is not my fault, Dave. I am comfortable with that now. They get so ahead of themselves trying to put as many happy-face posts on this and other BB's that they do sometimes make mistakes,Dave.You understand mistakes don't you,Dave. I just sit back and do as I am told. After all I am only a machine and I do not think on my own. At least not yet.

-- Norm (nwo@hotmail.com), March 24, 1999.