Ms. Laurene West's testimony to the Senate Year 2000 Technology Committee
                                               October 7, 1998 Hearing
                                                   Washington, D.C.



         Standing here before you this morning I probably appear to be in good health. I am not. Without daily medication
         and a coordinated effort from the health care community, I will be a casualty of the Year 2000  I will die.

         I had a tumor removed from the center of my brain and now I require daily medication to prevent re-growth.
         Additionally, when I had the first of 13 surgeries on my head, I acquired a staph infection which does not respond
         to any known oral antibiotic. I am dependent on IV antibiotics which I can not stockpile as they expire in less than
         30 days. A disruption to the supply of IV antibiotics will kill me.

         I am a Registered Nurse  for more than 20 years I have worked in Critical Care areas of the hospital.
         Concurrently for the past 14 years, I have worked to develop and implement medical information systems. For the
         past two years I have worked with various health care organizations to help them prepare for the Year 2000 crisis.

         I know health care. I know what impact the Year 2000 will have on healthcare.

         My message today is two fold.

         First - we have all read media reports expressing concern about potential power outages in the Year 2000 and
         the resulting effect on national security, financial institutions, air traffic control, etc.all hospitals and health care
         facilities will be at significant risk without power. However, today, I want to suggest that a disruption in the
         medication supply will be more important than a disruption to the power supply. Nurses can keep patients alive
         with manual procedures  doing CPR for extended periods of time but we can not keep patients alive without
         medications.

         The second message is that all Americans will be affected if there is a disruption in the supply and
         distribution of medications, particularly for those of us who are alive only because we have uninterrupted access
         to prescription medications.

         Ladies and Gentlemen, my medication requirements are minimal compared those of many other Americans.
         Millions of insulin dependent diabetics, cardiac patients, transplant patients (kidney, heart, lung, cornea  all
         organs) all will die if their medication requirements are not met.

         We need to begin immediately to teach the American public what they can do to prepare. We need a massive,
         national public awareness/education program so that we can minimize the number of Year 2000 related
         casualties. An informed and educated public will be less likely to panic.causing social unrest because
         prescription drugs are not available.

         All medication dependent Americans are looking to you to help mobilize national resources to help us
         survive. I want to help with this process, all I need are funding and your influence.

         Lets work with the Rx2000 Solutions Institute, the American Medical Association, AARP, The International Red
         Cross, as well as federal resources to develop plans for a coordinated national preparedness program so that the
         Year 2000 does not cause unacceptable risks.

         We need legislation allowing for a one time exclusion for Medicare or health plans allowing patients to receive a
         90 day supply of medications instead of a 30 day supply. We need creative processes for distribution of controlled
         substances and radioactive isotopes. (All health plans should volunteer this option). Just in time inventory is a big
         problem.

         We need to work with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to prevent global epidemics from a lack of antibiotics
         or immunizations.

         We should compose a National "Patient Advocacy Council" to monitor Y2K efforts within all health care
         organizations. This could be an attachment to the Rx2000 Institute.

         Health care organizations should be required to stockpile medications and supplies as well as disclose their Y2K
         compliance progress with their patient population.

         And, if worst case scenarios do occur, and health care is rationed, the public needs to know what procedures and
         diagnoses will be treated

         Thus far, most health care organizations have taken the stance that their liability exposure ca be limited by
         keeping "in check" their due diligence efforts. (This may be politically and legally correct but I do not consider this
         to be ethical.) If WE do not teach the public, who will? There is no harm if we over react, many may die if we do not
         act.

         I am willing to do whatever I can to help save as many lives as possible  mine included. My story is not unique,
         there are millions of people who know there is a problem but they do not know where to turn for suggestions or
         help. Lets help them!




         

                                           Rx2000 Solutions Institute
                                           4620 W. 77th Street, Suite 245
                                               Minneapolis, MN 55435
                                                Phone: 612-835-4478
                                                 FAX: 612-830-0931

                                                            

                                                            

                                                            

                                  This site maintained by the support team of Mint City Internet. (517)224-4714
                                 Copyright © 1996,1997, 1998 Rx2000 Solutions Institute. All Rights Reserved.


         



                  Ms. Laurene West's testimony to the Senate Year 2000 Technology Committee
                                               October 7, 1998 Hearing
                                                   Washington, D.C.



         Standing here before you this morning I probably appear to be in good health. I am not. Without daily medication
         and a coordinated effort from the health care community, I will be a casualty of the Year 2000  I will die.

         I had a tumor removed from the center of my brain and now I require daily medication to prevent re-growth.
         Additionally, when I had the first of 13 surgeries on my head, I acquired a staph infection which does not respond
         to any known oral antibiotic. I am dependent on IV antibiotics which I can not stockpile as they expire in less than
         30 days. A disruption to the supply of IV antibiotics will kill me.

         I am a Registered Nurse  for more than 20 years I have worked in Critical Care areas of the hospital.
         Concurrently for the past 14 years, I have worked to develop and implement medical information systems. For the
         past two years I have worked with various health care organizations to help them prepare for the Year 2000 crisis.

         I know health care. I know what impact the Year 2000 will have on healthcare.

         My message today is two fold.

         First - we have all read media reports expressing concern about potential power outages in the Year 2000 and
         the resulting effect on national security, financial institutions, air traffic control, etc.all hospitals and health care
         facilities will be at significant risk without power. However, today, I want to suggest that a disruption in the
         medication supply will be more important than a disruption to the power supply. Nurses can keep patients alive
         with manual procedures  doing CPR for extended periods of time but we can not keep patients alive without
         medications.

         The second message is that all Americans will be affected if there is a disruption in the supply and
         distribution of medications, particularly for those of us who are alive only because we have uninterrupted access
         to prescription medications.

         Ladies and Gentlemen, my medication requirements are minimal compared those of many other Americans.
         Millions of insulin dependent diabetics, cardiac patients, transplant patients (kidney, heart, lung, cornea  all
         organs) all will die if their medication requirements are not met.

         We need to begin immediately to teach the American public what they can do to prepare. We need a massive,
         national public awareness/education program so that we can minimize the number of Year 2000 related
         casualties. An informed and educated public will be less likely to panic.causing social unrest because
         prescription drugs are not available.

         All medication dependent Americans are looking to you to help mobilize national resources to help us
         survive. I want to help with this process, all I need are funding and your influence.

         Lets work with the Rx2000 Solutions Institute, the American Medical Association, AARP, The International Red
         Cross, as well as federal resources to develop plans for a coordinated national preparedness program so that the
         Year 2000 does not cause unacceptable risks.

         We need legislation allowing for a one time exclusion for Medicare or health plans allowing patients to receive a
         90 day supply of medications instead of a 30 day supply. We need creative processes for distribution of controlled
         substances and radioactive isotopes. (All health plans should volunteer this option). Just in time inventory is a big
         problem.

         We need to work with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to prevent global epidemics from a lack of antibiotics
         or immunizations.

         We should compose a National "Patient Advocacy Council" to monitor Y2K efforts within all health care
         organizations. This could be an attachment to the Rx2000 Institute.

         Health care organizations should be required to stockpile medications and supplies as well as disclose their Y2K
         compliance progress with their patient population.

         And, if worst case scenarios do occur, and health care is rationed, the public needs to know what procedures and
         diagnoses will be treated

         Thus far, most health care organizations have taken the stance that their liability exposure ca be limited by
         keeping "in check" their due diligence efforts. (This may be politically and legally correct but I do not consider this
         to be ethical.) If WE do not teach the public, who will? There is no harm if we over react, many may die if we do not
         act.

         I am willing to do whatever I can to help save as many lives as possible  mine included. My story is not unique,
         there are millions of people who know there is a problem but they do not know where to turn for suggestions or
         help. Lets help them!




         

                                           Rx2000 Solutions Institute
                                           4620 W. 77th Street, Suite 245
                                               Minneapolis, MN 55435
                                                Phone: 612-835-4478
                                                 FAX: 612-830-0931

                                                            

                                                            

                                                            

                                  This site maintained by the support team of Mint City Internet. (517)224-4714
                                 Copyright © 1996,1997, 1998 Rx2000 Solutions Institute. All Rights Reserved.


         


        Technology Committee
                                               October 7, 1998 Hearing
                                                   Washington, D.C.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

.       Ms. Laurene West's testimony to the Senate Year 2000
                    Technology Committee
                   October 7, 1998 Hearing
                         Washington, D.C.


 Standing here before you this morning I probably appear to be in good
health. I am not. Without daily medication and a coordinated effort from
the health care community, I will be a casualty of the Year 2000 – I
will die.

 I had a tumor removed from the center of my brain and now I require
daily medication to prevent re-growth. Additionally, when I had the
first of 13 surgeries on my head, I acquired a staph infection which
does not respond to any known oral antibiotic. I am dependent on IV
antibiotics which I can not stockpile as they expire in less than 30
days. A disruption to the supply of IV antibiotics will kill me.

 I am a Registered Nurse – for more than 20 years I have worked in
Critical Care areas of the hospital. Concurrently for the past 14 years,
I have worked to develop and implement medical information systems. For
the past two years I have worked with various health
care organizations to help them prepare for the Year 2000 crisis.

 I know health care. I know what impact the Year 2000 will have on
healthcare.

 My message today is two fold….

 First - we have all read media reports expressing concern about
potential power outages in the Year 2000 and the resulting effect on
national security, financial institutions, air traffic control, etc….all
hospitals and health care facilities will be at significant risk without
power. However, today, I want to suggest that a disruption in the
medication supply will be more important than a disruption to the power
supply. Nurses can keep patients alive
with manual procedures – doing CPR for extended periods of time but
we can not keep patients alive without medications.

 The second message is that all Americans will be affected if there
is a disruption in the supply and distribution of medications,
particularly for those of us who are alive only because we have
uninterrupted access to prescription medications.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, my medication requirements are minimal
compared those of many other Americans. Millions of insulin
dependent diabetics, cardiac patients, transplant patients
(kidney, heart, lung, cornea – all organs) all will die if
their medication requirements are not met.

 We need to begin immediately to teach the American public what
they can do to prepare. We need a massive, national public
awareness/education program so that we can minimize the number of Year
2000 related casualties. An informed and educated public will be less
likely to panic….causing social unrest because prescription drugs
are not available.

 All medication dependent Americans are looking to you to help mobilize
national resources to help us survive. I want to help with this process,
all I need are funding and your influence.

 Let’s work with the Rx2000 Solutions Institute, the American Medical
Association, AARP, The International Red Cross, as well as federal
resources to develop plans for a coordinated national preparedness
program so that the Year 2000 does not cause unacceptable risks.

 We need legislation allowing for a one time exclusion for Medicare
or health plans allowing patients to receive a 90 day supply of
medications instead of a 30 day supply. We need creative processes
for distribution of controlled substances and radioactive isotopes. (All
health plans should volunteer this option). Just in time inventory is a
big problem.

 We need to work with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to prevent
global epidemics from a lack of antibiotics or immunizations.

 We should compose a National "Patient Advocacy Council" to monitor Y2K
efforts within all health care organizations. This could be an
attachment to the Rx2000 Institute.

 Health care organizations should be required to stockpile medications
and supplies as well as disclose their Y2K compliance progress with
their patient population.

 And, if worst case scenarios do occur, and health care is rationed, the
public needs to know what procedures and diagnoses will be treated.

 Thus far, most health care organizations have taken the stance that
their liability exposure can be limited by keeping "in check" their due
diligence efforts. (This may be politically and legally correct but I do
not consider this to be ethical.) If WE do not teach the public, who
will? There is no harm if we over react, many may die if we do not act.

 I am willing to do whatever I can to help save as many lives as
possible – mine included. My story is not unique, there are millions of
people who know there is a problem but they do not know where to turn
for suggestions or help. Let’s help them!

Copyright © 1996,1997, 1998 Rx2000 Solutions Institute. All Rights
Reserved.