PRO/AH: Millennium bug: CDC & ATSDR readiness

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FYI....

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Subj: PRO/AH> Millennium bug: CDC & ATSDR readiness

Date: 4/5/99 11:55:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time

From: promed@... (ProMED-mail)

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MILLENIUM BUG: CDC & ATSDR READINESS

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A ProMED-mail post

http://www.healthnet.org/programs/promed.html>

Date: Thu 1 Apr 1999

From: Marjorie P. Pollack pollackmp@...

Source: CDC http://www.cdc.gov/y2k/y2khome.htm

[Note: in spite of the story´s date, this is *not* a hoax - Mod.JW]

The scope of the Year 2000 (Y2K) issue, also known as the Millennium Bug,

spans virtually all sectors of the economy, public and private businesses

and organizations, and other elements of daily life that are affected by

information technology and other devices that contain date-sensitive

embedded microchips. Included in potentially affected services are the

practice of healthcare and public health which is responsible for preventing

disease, environmental hazards, and injuries.

The Y2K phenomenon exists because for decades, it's been common practice for

programmers to use the last two digits, instead of all four, to represent

the year. This practice was believed to save storage and memory space and

minimize data entry burden. However, as the year 2000 approaches, public

health agencies must join with both the public and private sectors and take

aggressive action to maintain system continuity, quality, and integrity to

ensure a smooth and uninterrupted information flow.

Achieving Year 2000 compliance is a top priority for CDC and its sister

agency -- the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The

practice of public health is very date-dependent and it is critical to

maintain the quality, continuity, and integrity of the agencies' scientific

and business processes. There are about 230 major information systems at CDC

and ATSDR that represent an estimated 12 million lines of programming code

and world-wide information transactions. CDC and ATSDR's projected cost for

the human resources, hardware and software necessary to achieve Y2K

compliance is approximately $21 million.

To meet the Y2K challenge, CDC and ATSDR have been working diligently to

ensure all information systems, external data exchanges, laboratory

equipment, building and facilities, telecommunications networks, information

technology infrastructure, and commercial software is Y2K compliant and

ready for the millennium transition.

CDC began its Y2K-related actions in 1996 and developed a multi-faceted

action plan to address the transition. Key elements of this plan include:

Preparation - raising internal organizational awareness as well as

identifying assets vulnerable to Y2K;

Assessment - analyzing assets for Y2K readiness;

Planning - developing comprehensive project plan, strategies, approaches,

methodologies, and standards;

Remediation - converting code and data, replacing or retiring systems, and

acquiring new systems or assets as necessary;

Evaluation - project monitoring, independent verification and validation

testing of system compliance, and ongoing monitoring of remediated systems;

Outreach - maintaining awareness, assessing partner readiness and plans, and

coordinating compliance efforts with partners; and

Contingency Planning - planning to ensure continuity of critical functions

in the event of system and/or infrastructure service failures or problems.

The following highlights summarize the agency's status toward achieving Y2K

compliance:

By the end of 1998, CDC and ATSDR had achieved Y2K compliance for all major

information systems and external data exchanges with other partners. Work is

nearing completion on all other Y2K project aspects such as repair or

replacement of devices with embedded microchips. Compliance in the other

areas is expected to be reached by June 1999. An extensive contingency plan

has also been developed.

CDC and ATSDR have been active in outreach efforts in the healthcare and

public health industries in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services and the President's Council for Y2K Conversion. CDC has

actively worked with many partners in the healthcare and public health areas

to, among other things, conduct a readiness assessment of state health

agencies and co-sponsor a national teleconference of Y2K readiness in

clinical laboratories.

Work is underway to conduct a Y2K environmental simulation test with our

public health partners to ensure Y2K readiness for processes that cross

organizational boundaries and to instill public confidence.

The public's health and safety and the quality of healthcare are a top

priority for CDC and ATSDR -- especially in the face of the Year 2000

challenge. It is essential that healthcare providers and government health

agencies maintain a full commitment to Y2K readiness, testing, and

contingency planning. Equally essential is the public's awareness of the Y2K

issue and their ability to take prudent action based on accurate and timely

information. CDC and ATSDR will continue to test and address systematic

issues that may relate to the Y2K challenge -- and communicate these

activities to it's clients in the global community.

For additional details on CDC/ATSDR's Y2K actions, please visit our web site

at: http://www.cdc.gov/y2k/y2khome.htm

Other sources for Y2K information can be found at The President's Council on

Year 2000 Conversion web page at: www.y2k.gov

or by calling the Council's free Y2K information line at 1-888-USA-4-Y2K.

Contact: CDC, Media Relations Division Tel: +1 404 639-3286

...................................jw