By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

As the clock approaches midnight Friday, Fayette Community Hospital personnel will be preparing to swing into action.

But the hospital is not expecting a flood of injuries from rioting or other year 2000 calamities that some have predicted. Instead, technicians will be on hand to test the hospital's wide array of computer-dependent equipment immediately after midnight to make sure no Y2K glitches have escaped the scrutiny of earlier testing.

“We'll be doing equipment testing in the hours just after the ball drops,” said hospital spokesman Ryan Duffy. If there are any problems, all the vendors are on call, she said. And if one of the vendors fails to respond properly, the hospital is ready with a list of alternative suppliers.

Equipment used directly in patient care will get first priority, she added.

As for the possibility of a flood of injuries or other problems, hospital staff are ready for that, too, she said, as part of a community task force that includes all the emergency agencies.

“We've spent a significant amount of time preparing for the unexpected,” said Duffy. “As a health care agency, we always operate in contingency mode,” she added.

Senior administrative staff also will be working this New Year's Eve, she said, mostly to display empathy with the extra staff that have to work.

“We've definitely put some thought into `what if,' but we're hoping it's not going to be anything but an overstaffed party,” said Duffy.

If there are power outages, generators are on hand to keep the hospital operating smoothly, as in any disaster.

Hospital personnel also are in contact with companies that provide assistance to home-bound patients and others with special needs, in case any problems arise, she said.

“We are very prepared,” said Duffy.