A medical lead adapter assembly is provided for facilitating an electrical connection between an implantable medical lead connector and an external medical device. The adapter includes a housing, having a sidewall and a longitudinally extending connector receptacle, and at least one contact opening passing through the sidewall to the receptacle. The contact opening is positioned in a location corresponding with at least one ring contact of the lead connector, when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle, and allows electrical connection between at least one contact element of the external medical device and the at least one ring contact of the lead connector.