Can artificial intelligence make healthcare faster, cheaper, and more convenient? Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., believes it can transform the medical landscape. From AI-powered diagnostics to driving down drug prices and providing free wearable tech for everyone, AI has the potential to overhaul the way we experience healthcare.
A new hospital cyberattack left patients without care – Keep your records safe
Come with me. Imagine you rush to the emergency room, but after five hours, they tell you to find another hospital. Or you check in at your specialist’s office for a chronic condition, only to find they’ve lost your entire medical history. Both of these scenarios just happened.
Yesterday’s cyberattack on one of the largest health systems in the U.S., Ascension, was bad — really bad. Before you say, “Another data breach? So what, Kim?” know that having your records sold on the dark web is the least of your worries.
Code red
The hack on Ascension sent its 140 hospitals and 40 senior facilities into full-blown chaos. It took down patient record systems and medication prescribing systems, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper charts and handwritten records to keep things running.
One patient, Zackery Lopez, checked himself in at an Ascension-run hospital in Southfield, Michigan. He was suffering from internal bleeding and thinking his cancer had returned. Zackery waited a grueling seven hours before a nurse could help him. As he waited, he saw patients checking themselves out.
Keep your health records safe
When hospital systems get hacked, it’s a matter of life and death. And it’s happening more and more often. Keeping physical records sounds old-school, but if digital systems go down, it could save your life.
- Start with a list. Make a list of all your meds, including dosages and names, and keep both digital and physical copies. Store a physical copy in your purse or wallet if you’re currently in treatment or in case of emergency.
I also recommend compiling your full medical records and having a printed copy on hand. If you have an iPhone, you can sync them to your Health app:
Add your health records
- Open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.
- If you’re on your iPhone, tap the Summary tab, then your profile picture in the upper-right corner. On iPad, tap Profile in the upper-left corner.
- Scroll down to Features > Health Records > Get Started.
- Search for your hospital or network, then tap it. FYI: It’ll ask you to add location services to find hospitals and health networks near you, but you don’t have to enable it to search.
- Under Available to Connect, choose Connect Account. Sign in to your health care provider’s website or app.
- Wait for your records to update. It might take a minute for your information to appear.
- Repeat these steps for each supported provider. Start by going to Features, then tap Add Account.
View your health records
Here are companies offering WFH jobs now
Working from home offers many perks (aside from not having to wear pants). The big one is you don’t have to commute. Think of all the money you’d save on gas! Plus, you can listen to music without disturbing anyone, have more time with your family and customize your office exactly as you want.
Will AI revolutionize your next doctor's visit? Rep. David Schweikert thinks so
Spot the fake: Change Healthcare is offering free credit monitoring after this year’s massive data breach (paywall link). A reported one in three Americans had their insurance info, Social Security number, health conditions and more leaked. The credit monitoring is through IDX. If you get anything else in the mail, it’s a scam. Just a reminder: If you haven’t frozen your credit yet, here are the steps.
What's up, doc? Surprise email fees are the new healthcare trend
The doctor will see you now … anywhere, thanks to telehealth tech. But patients have found these visits are sneaking a hand into their wallets. Reports show that a growing number of hospital services across the country charge patients just to message their doctors. That’s leading to surprise fees as high as $50 for an email!
Read this before signing up for Amazon Clinic
The CDC says millions of Americans are skipping doses, delaying refills and taking other measures to save on meds. Add that to everyone who puts off visiting the doctor when they know something is wrong because it’s too expensive.
Apple Watch medical revolution
More and more healthcare professionals are using Apple’s tech as a way to treat illness and disease.
Change Healthcare hackers stole your data. What should you do?
The Change Healthcare hack in February was entirely avoidable; the company neglected basic software updates. So, what does this hack mean for you? Spoiler: a lot.
🖼️ Hackers are branching out: The same hackers who infiltrated half of all Americans’ records in the recent Change Healthcare breach are at it again. They’re planning to leak names, ID numbers and birthdates from 500,000 wealthy clients at Christie’s auction house unless Christie’s pays up.
UnitedHealth paid a $22 million ransom
The Change Healthcare data breach occurred due to a lack of multifactor authentication. Are you prepared for cyberattacks?
15 million vets’ health data was leaked: It was part of the recently reported Change Healthcare and UnitedHealth ransomware data breach. Supposedly, patients’ “full medical histories” weren’t compromised, but with more dirt coming out about the breach almost every day, who’s to say how deep this rabbit hole goes? Watch out for medical ID theft.
It just keeps getting worse: Think of one person you’d call friend or foe. Now, know it’s either them or you who just got their medical ID and health care details stolen. Yup, 50% of Americans were hit. Cybercriminals were in Change Healthcare’s system for nine days (paywall link) before launching their Feb. 21 ransomware attack. You really need to watch out for medical theft. Steps are on my site.
Ransomware gang has your health data
Yes, the Change Healthcare hack just got worse. Here’s what you need to know. Plus, X charges a $1 fee to post, a foodie side hustle saves a guy $40K, and beware of scary SIM swapping scams.
Under siege: Change Healthcare, the hacked UnitedHealth Group company that processes insurance claims, already paid $22 million to a ransomware crime ring. It’s no surprise they’re a big target since they’re used by about 94% of hospitals, plus pharmacies and medical offices. Another group called RansomHub says they’ll sell the same data that was stolen during that massive February cyberattack unless they get paid in five days. We’re all screwed.
Folks can’t get their meds: Blame it on notorious cyber-gang Blackcat. Their ransomware attack on Chain Healthcare forced a system shutdown. Processing prescription claims is currently a nightmare. The FBI says hospitals should be on alert. It’s a scary time to need medical attention.
🦠 Bacteria Turner Overdrive: Scientists swabbed smartwatch bands, and the results are nasty — everything from E. coli to staph. A crazy 95% of bands tested positive for bacteria. The dirtiest bands belonged to healthcare workers. So many sources of ick! Grab the wipes.
Toss out this sunscreen! It was recalled for including a cancer-causing ingredient
In a recent FDA announcement, Edgewell Personal Care has come forward with news regarding its Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30. Previously, three UPCs were flagged, but one additional lot has now been included due to high levels of benzene, which is a potential cancer risk.
Work in one of these 10 industries? Scammers are targeting you
Any Komando.com reader knows that antivirus software is essential for your computer, but that’s not the only device you should be protecting. Smartphone cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common. Tap or click here for tips on shielding your iPhone and Android from the countless threats out there.
Can you trust YouTube's new labels?
YouTube just introduced a new “reliable doctor” rating for certain healthcare videos. Can you trust it? Here’s my take, in 60 seconds.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Healthcare security breach: 3 million patients exposed thanks to Facebook tracker
The internet has given us 24/7 access to unlimited information, but it’s come at a price. The danger from scammers and hackers is never far away, but they’re not the only ones you have to worry about.
Legitimate companies track you from one website to another, building an online profile of you, selling your data and targeting you with ads. Fortunately, Apple fans can quickly put a stop to this. Tap or click here to prevent cross-site tracking on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.