Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Are computers going to extinct humanity? I am not that old, but I do remember the world without computers. Certainly, I remember the medical office without Electronic Records. We still work with personnel who were trained on paper claims for every visit. What was it, some 25-30 years ago? Now, there is not a single young employee who does not have life stuck in the iphone. Some have no checkbooks and never wrote a check. All bills, all communications, all reminders, all important phone numbers, everything is in their phone. And then comes the AT&T outage. For about 10 hours, a huge number of people could not run their life and their work. They could not access the banks, because the verification is texted and called to the cell phones. And then, coincidentally, we experience a huge outage in healthcare. Media does not even report on it, but it is very much paralyzing. Some 'bad actors' from out of the country hacked the system that controls revenue cycle of a very complicated American healthcare system. The largest platform receiving electronic claims and processing them to insurance carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna is non-functional. Pharmacies cannot process prescriptions. Hospitals cannot bill surgeries. Doctors' offices cannot send claims for visits and procedures. Apparently, according to American Hospital Association, over 100 million patients are affected. The outage is on its 7th day when I wrote this and there is no update to the system restoration. Practically, some 50% of our healthcare in danger of non-payments for their services. When cascading down, medical institutions will stop seeing patients for non-urgent services and will not pay their respective bills. Lucky are those who remember and know how to set up manual claims processing and actually get some money, with delay but still be paid. And finally, we have all the social media, in fights for free speech, which often produces hate, violence, and depression. Cases of young children being bullied, socially ostracized, and even dead. Computers and technology behind them, including Al, were supposed to make our lives better. Their purpose was to simplify work tasks, communication, and bring efficient and smart environment. We call our phones 'smart phones' for a reason. And they did improve the way we live and work, no doubts about it. In medicine, there is a whole new world of scientific improvements that have changed the way we practice. Lives have been saved by introducing new technologies. New medicines have been developed targeting illnesses that have no cure or treatment. I am not even sure I remember how it used to be 20 years ago, when I had to handwrite prescriptions and medical notes. Yet, there are thousands of "bad actors' whose job is to look for opportunities to destroy it all. Ransom hacking is a daily event. Massive international hacking is costing millions. Possibly, there will be people who will die as a result of the current on-going crisis. Prescriptions are crucial for many hospital patients and home-based ill individuals. So, what is the lesson for all of us? Well, technology is great when used ethically. It destroys us when it does not happen. We should always have a plan B, no matter how time- and labor-consuming it is. Especially in healthcare. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Are computers going to extinct humanity ? I am not that old , but I do remember the world without computers . Certainly , I remember the medical office without Electronic Records . We still work with personnel who were trained on paper claims for every visit . What was it , some 25-30 years ago ? Now , there is not a single young employee who does not have life stuck in the iphone . Some have no checkbooks and never wrote a check . All bills , all communications , all reminders , all important phone numbers , everything is in their phone . And then comes the AT & T outage . For about 10 hours , a huge number of people could not run their life and their work . They could not access the banks , because the verification is texted and called to the cell phones . And then , coincidentally , we experience a huge outage in healthcare . Media does not even report on it , but it is very much paralyzing . Some ' bad actors ' from out of the country hacked the system that controls revenue cycle of a very complicated American healthcare system . The largest platform receiving electronic claims and processing them to insurance carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna is non - functional . Pharmacies cannot process prescriptions . Hospitals cannot bill surgeries . Doctors ' offices cannot send claims for visits and procedures . Apparently , according to American Hospital Association , over 100 million patients are affected . The outage is on its 7th day when I wrote this and there is no update to the system restoration . Practically , some 50 % of our healthcare in danger of non - payments for their services . When cascading down , medical institutions will stop seeing patients for non - urgent services and will not pay their respective bills . Lucky are those who remember and know how to set up manual claims processing and actually get some money , with delay but still be paid . And finally , we have all the social media , in fights for free speech , which often produces hate , violence , and depression . Cases of young children being bullied , socially ostracized , and even dead . Computers and technology behind them , including Al , were supposed to make our lives better . Their purpose was to simplify work tasks , communication , and bring efficient and smart environment . We call our phones ' smart phones ' for a reason . And they did improve the way we live and work , no doubts about it . In medicine , there is a whole new world of scientific improvements that have changed the way we practice . Lives have been saved by introducing new technologies . New medicines have been developed targeting illnesses that have no cure or treatment . I am not even sure I remember how it used to be 20 years ago , when I had to handwrite prescriptions and medical notes . Yet , there are thousands of " bad actors ' whose job is to look for opportunities to destroy it all . Ransom hacking is a daily event . Massive international hacking is costing millions . Possibly , there will be people who will die as a result of the current on - going crisis . Prescriptions are crucial for many hospital patients and home - based ill individuals . So , what is the lesson for all of us ? Well , technology is great when used ethically . It destroys us when it does not happen . We should always have a plan B , no matter how time- and labor - consuming it is . Especially in healthcare . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net