Y2K Problem

[Anne]

I have a friend at work whose husband has a pacemaker.  Last evening he caught a tv program at the tail end about pacemakers and problems with the Y2K situation.  Is there any reason for concern?  Thank You.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

By defalt all pacemakers are Y2K compliant because none of them use a date function.

[Deb]

Hi,

I too have a dual chamber pacemaker. I just got back from a meeting on pacing in Minn.  There is no problem with the Y2K stuff.  Pacemakers are not dependent on dates.  Yes, they can record dates and print out the dates on interrogation, but the pacer is dependent on the programmers telling them this.  The programmers and the chips in them, are what is in question.  There were sales reps from the pacer compaines there at this meeting, and they all said they are 2000 compliant.  Although the pacer compines say all is well, it is best to check with the company that makes your pacers.  There is a site on the web for each company and you can read about the Y2K stuff there.  They all have a place on the sites for the patient and medical personal to read all about it.  I don't worry about it.

Take care,
DEB

[Kay]

I would like to know too.  I have a dual chamber pacemaker by Intermedics.  It was inserted in 1993 and I am completely dependent upon it.
Smiles
Kay

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

I suspect the show was reassuring people that there is no problem.  Although a pacemaker "keeps time"  it has no idea, (and dosen't care for that matter) what day it is.   Therefore there are no Y2K problems with pacemakers.