NEWS IN MEDICINE: ST. FRANCIS READIES FOR Y2K

Since April, 1998, St. Francis Medical Center has been doing inventories of all equipment and getting information from suppliers, manufacturers and other vendors on their Y2K status.

Diane Gammon, Information Services Manager said St. Francis "really got a jump on this problem because we started earlier and have really focused heavily on being prepared."

In January, the hospital ran an internal disaster drill -- with the scenario being Y2K disruption of utilities -- to test preparedness.

Gammon said the results were positive, "because many of the elements of disaster preparedness that we already have on-line for coping with natural disasters helped us to make preparations."