Hospitals say they are prepared

December 31, 1999
Web posted at: 10:07 a.m. EST (1507 GMT)

From Medical Correspondent Dr. Steve Salvatore

New York (CNN) -- For Lucia Skwarek, the New Year's celebration won't just mark the birth of a millennium, but the birth of her twin babies, an event she approaches without any fears of Y2K problems.

"I'm surprised just how many things are still done by hand, and how many hand-written charts there are," Skwarek said. "It's actually very, at least so far what I can tell, very non-computerized."

Dr. Alan Kessler is an obstetrician at the New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center where Skwarek is expected to deliver.

He said computers do play a role in labor and delivery at the hospital.

"Most of our computerization for OB/GYN revolves around labor and delivery, particularly fetal heart rate monitoring, retrieving laboratory tests and such," he said.

Kessler said an electrical problem is more likely to pose a risk in the delivery room than a computer problem. But if a power outage occurs, the hospital is prepared to work through it.

"We could always use flashlights," he said. "Patients in labor will be in labor and we have battery-powered devices to listen to the baby's heart rate in labor."

But any Y2K computer problem is unlikely, according to Dr. Frank Chervenak, director of the OB/GYN unite. He said the hospital has been prepared for almost three years now and is ready to go on January 1, 2000.

"Our equipment is up to date; we anticipate no special problems," he said. "We're excited about taking care of new mothers and babies in the new millennium."

Skwarek says she is excited also to have twins ring in the new year.