Blockchain in Healthcare

Last week I finished a Foundations of Blockchain course. I had recently completed an Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course and an Introduction to Machine Learning course and so the instructor recommended it to us as a next step. When the instructor suggested it, I was thinking… hmm do I really want to do a course on Bitcoin? But… when I was learning more and more about blockchain I saw that there is a clearly a use for it in healthcare. I think most people still don’t understand the way blockchain works because it is such a new technology. Maybe healthcare leaders don’t even want to learn about it because they think of the association of cryptocurrency with blockchain. I think more healthcare leaders should learn about blockchain, because blockchain can significantly change the way information is exchanged in healthcare, increase patient engagement, and simplify insurance payments.

I didn’t learn how to program or create a code for blockchain while taking the course but I did learn the basic concepts that go into blockchain technology. We looked at different uses and what makes it a great technology for exchanging and tracking information in a secure, but private, way. It was really cool to learn about because I didn’t realize even the FDA has been looking at blockchain lately as a solution. Some companies use blockchain to tag and track items through a supply chain since the chain can show where the shipment started, where it was delivered, and who received the item at each stop. IBM created an overview of the use of blockchain in supply chains: https://www.ibm.com/blockchain-supply-chain. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum of course use blockchains to create secure transactions without the need for a centralized bank. In healthcare, blockchain allows health information to be exchanged securely so that only authorized people would get access and it is protected. You have probably heard of HIPAA already but basically HIPAA protects patients from unauthorized parties getting access to their health information.

When I work at the bedside, I can see examples of how it would help nurses if patients could easily click a button on their phones to send their pre-existing health information and simplify their admission process. Providers could make better decisions about the patient’s diagnosis too. There have been so many times where a patient told us about a test or procedure they had, but couldn’t remember the exact details. This information would be really helpful to figure out what happened and their treatment plan. I have seen patients or family members that want to be able to see real time health information such as labs or vital signs too. This is great to see, because many studies show that a higher level of patient engagement leads to them having a positive self-esteem, feeling empowered, and feeling independent (1). Wouldn’t it be great to allow that real-time secure exchange of information?

Healthcare organizations could also work with insurance companies to link patient payments in an organized and secure manner. Blockchain would allow healthcare organizations to stamp clinical services at each step of the payment. If you go to this link https://builtin.com/blockchain/blockchain-healthcare-applications-companies , it will show 17 companies that have already started using blockchain in healthcare.  

For these reasons, I think healthcare executives and technology experts should invest more resources into learning about blockchain. Developing more ways to have higher patient engagement with technology would help both healthcare staff and patients at all points of access in the ecology of healthcare. I think eventually healthcare executives, providers, technology experts, and insurance agencies will be talking about blockchain in a way that it is common knowledge, but right now it is going to take some time to develop this technology and increase its awareness. I hope to see it become more commonplace as a part of the solution to healthcare’s current challenges.

References:

Bombard Y, Baker GR, Orlando E, Fancott C, Bhatia P, Casalino S, Onate K, Denis JL, Pomey MP. Engaging patients to improve quality of care: a systematic review. Implement Sci. 2018 Jul 26;13(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s13012-018-0784-z. PMID: 30045735; PMCID: PMC6060529.

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