Blockchain healthcare seems to the future of this industry. In ways than one, blockchain technology could eventually change the healthcare industry for the better. That is why innovators are currently focused on blockchain healthcare projects. That begs the question: how will blockchain technology make healthcare better? And is it practical?
With that in mind, let’s down to today’s topic: Best ways to use blockchain tech in the healthcare industry. Hold up! Do you even know what blockchain technology is? If not, here’s a summary in the tech to give you a clearer perspective on the matter.
What is blockchain?
In simple terms, blockchain is a system that records and stores transactions using a decentralized protocol. What’s more, the operations in this system are based on a peer-to-peer transaction system linked to blocks in a digital ledger. The system relies on a cryptographic protocol that allows each participant to engage with the system.
Above all, the system doesn’t have any centralized authority. Records of the transactions within the system are distributed to every participant in the network. Now that you know what exactly blockchain tech is let’s look at the best ways to implement it in healthcare.
Blockchain Healthcare Projects: Best ways to implement blockchain in the healthcare
Thanks to the interconnectivity of blockchain technology, medical records can be monitored and stored in a system that’s visible from any healthcare center. Once the medical information is generated and signed, it will be written on the blockchain hence providing absolute proof that the records cannot be altered.
With this system, the integrity of the medical records is ensured. Additionally, the same concept can be applied when it comes to clinical trials. The result can’t be altered in any way thanks to the supporting blockchain technology. That ensures the integrity of the medical fraternity at large.
2. Patiently Monitoring
The future is headed to a place where remote monitoring of patients will be possible through the IoT, and blockchain plays a crucial part in this future. That’s because, through blockchain, medical practitioners can monitor, store and share the collected biomedical data remotely.
With such opportunities, response time for the medical team will almost be instantaneous hence helping to save thousands, if not millions of lives. Remote monitoring is still a far-fetched dream, but its practicability is soon taking action. We might quickly witness this type of remote monitoring once the processes pass clinical and beta testing. Either way, blockchain healthcare is still a future we should be expecting.
3. Consent Management
We now live in a world where every country, state, and government operates with different regulations and privacy policies. The same goes for the medical sector. As such, blockchain healthcare projects can be used to record consent to share this information. Any party willing to share or exchange medical records will have to check with the consent management sector within the blockchain for permission to do so.
4. Switching Providers
We all know how hectic the switching from one healthcare center to another can be. In most cases, patients always have to carry their medical records with them. And sometimes, when it’s an absolute emergency, and the patient is in an unresponsive state, it’s challenging to take the next course of action. And that’s where blockchain healthcare comes in. When the information is stored within the identical blockchain, it’s easy to retrieve the data and switch providers. That will help to make the information technology within the healthcare industry smooth.
5. Affordable and fast patient care
Blockchain healthcare projects will create a single system where data can be stored, updated, and rapidly retrieved by authorized users. That said, such a system will help avoid miscommunication between practitioners involved in the patient’s healthcare hence preventing avoidable mistakes. Above all, that will also speed up the diagnosis process and treatment. Therefore, healthcare will be personalized and affordable. Through this process, the industry can avoid expenses that arise from mistaken diagnosis and prolonged treatment processes.
6. Data Security
Another crucial part of the health industry is data security. Currently, we’ve had several security breaches with millions of data lost through it concerning healthcare records. That’s led to inconveniences within the industry. The secure nature of blockchain technology will help protect the sector from breaches and loss of data. Each patient will have a public identifier or private keys that can only be unlocked with the authorized practitioner at a time.
Hacking will be limited since the perpetrator will have to attack each patient’s data to obtain private information. That’s extremely difficult and expensive to pull off. Additionally, it would be easy to identify any hack attacks since the data is spread through different ledgers within the blockchain system. Therefore, any alteration will be determined within less than minutes, and the hacker found.
7. Tracking Supplies
Finally, blockchain systems can be used in the supply chain of pharmaceutical supplies. The system allows full transparency; hence counterfeit items will be identified and disposed of. Additionally, this system allows the medical practitioner to use supplies before their expiry dates from the manufacturer. Any changes to the supplies can be identified and dealt with. Blockchain healthcare projects in the supply chain will also standardized pharmaceutical supplies, making them affordable.
Take Away Message
As you can see, there are limitless ways blockchain technology can be applied in the healthcare industry. This new technology will make the operations smooth and less expensive for all the involved parties. Above all, blockchain technology will also create a logical organization that reduces the hurdles that arise from disorganization.
Thankfully, this system safeguards everyone without any special considerations. If we maintain our current progress levels, we might soon see most healthcare industries adopt blockchain healthcare projects.
