The patient care industry is an important one when it comes to people’s health and well-being. However, due to some of the industry’s obstacles, blockchain has been seen as a potential option to improve the patient care industry. In this post, we will explore the potential of blockchain to enhance patient care and its impact on the healthcare industry.
Relationship Between Blockchain and Patient Care
Blockchain refers to a decentralized database used to create and store records. It uses a digital ledger of interlinked “blocks” data to record user transactions on its decentralized network.
When a device on a blockchain system generates a block, all the instruments on that system will have the same block. Each device creates a block to store locally each time data on any computer is accessed, modified, shared, or altered in any manner.
This block makes it simple to spot when information is modified. By comparing the blocks on each linked device, a company can attain data parity in a decentralized manner.
Blockchain can transform how we think about healthcare by placing patients at the center. It can also help provide new efficiency, security, and cooperation levels.
Blockchain is used more frequently in healthcare administration as a strategic instrument to lay the groundwork for an efficient and effective evidence-based decision-making procedure. The healthcare sector can also utilize it to enhance various tasks related to preventing and controlling diseases amidst a pandemic.
The sudden emergence and unregulated spread of Covid-19 worldwide has highlighted the inadequacy of healthcare systems in handling public health emergencies. It also shows the evident absence of advanced forecasting systems that could have prevented or mitigated the crisis.
In the long run, a nationwide blockchain network for electronic medical records can improve efficiencies and support better patient health outcomes. As a result, medical centers can invest more in patient care, new technologies and prepare for any unforeseen public health disaster.
How is Blockchain Improving Patient Care?
The healthcare industry has much to gain from the advent of blockchain technology as it has proven to be a trustworthy solution for various obstacles plaguing patient care worldwide. Some of the ways blockchain is improving patient care and how it impacts the healthcare industry include:
- Strengthens Data Security
- Enhances and Secures Electronic Health Record Systems
- Patient Monitoring and Telemedicine
- Cost-effective and Higher-quality Patient Care
- Protecting Genomic Information
Strengthens Data Security
The inability to safely communicate and access patient information has devastated the medical field. According to the 2020 Herjavec Group’s Healthcare Cybersecurity Report, the last three years have seen over 93% of healthcare businesses suffer a data breach.
Most traditional healthcare systems store patient information in centralized databases, leaving them open to hackers and data breaches. In contrast, the blockchain is a distributed ledger stored in several places called nodes. Because of its decentralized design, unauthorized parties will have difficulty breaking into it.
Companies like Chronicled use blockchain technology to secure and ensure effective medical supply chain management through MediLedger Network.
Additionally, with blockchain technology, patients can easily manage their consent to benefit their data, as it offers a safe and transparent means.
Enhances and Secures Electronic Health Record Systems
Electronic health records are essential to the healthcare system to provide a comprehensive and accurate history of each patient’s medical treatments.
Electronic health records include a lot of private information about patients. Securing that information becomes increasingly difficult as these health records systems get more complicated.
Blockchain technology allows for the safe and secure storage of EHR data without the risk of alteration. The electronic health record (EHR) logs every transaction or modification as a block and then connects to other blocks using cryptographic hashes.
This way, no tampering can occur undetected once the Blockchain stores information. With the support of blockchain networks, companies can ensure both openness and privacy, protecting patient health records while facilitating their access and exchange when necessary.
Patient Monitoring and Telemedicine
Healthcare practitioners and patients can benefit from using blockchain to enhance their interactions. It provides real-time, encrypted storage and transfer of sensitive patient health information.
Data on a person’s health can be stored and transmitted safely in real-time. Also, data from patient monitoring equipment, like vital signs or sensor readings, can be recorded on the blockchain for future reference.
Healthcare practitioners, carers, and other authorized parties can easily share patient monitoring data with blockchain technology.
Cost-effective and Higher-quality Patient Care
Healthcare companies can also use blockchain technology centrally to store and update health records to ensure authorized users’ safety and speedy access. It also ensures that these companies avoid errors and tailor the needs of each patient to their care.
Additionally, blockchain technology can automate and streamline healthcare administrative tasks, including claims processing and supply chain management.
Blockchain also helps to drastically cut administrative expenses and enhance the efficiency of healthcare operations. It helps in removing unnecessary intermediaries, decreasing paperwork, and boosting transparency.
Protecting Genomic Information
Genomic data theft has become a significant problem as more companies offer DNA sequencing to the person. Blockchain can stop this and provide a digital marketplace where researchers may purchase genetic data.
This marketplace may encourage closed sales and get rid of intermediaries. Additionally, data fragmentation and poor accessibility can occur when sharing genomic data. These problems happen because healthcare institutions usually disburse genomic data to several educational and health institutions.
Blockchain facilitates the development of a decentralized and shared data ecosystem where authorized parties may safely store, exchange, and access genetic data. For example, Nebula Genomics cut unnecessary expenditures and intermediaries in genetic research through distributed ledger technology.
Conclusion
Regarding patient care, blockchain technology is making revolutionary strides in resolving fundamental problems. You can see its influence in many fields, such as data security, genomic data sharing, and remote patient monitoring.
The healthcare sector can enhance efficiency and accessibility by utilizing the potential of blockchain technology. Thus, this will eventually result in improved health outcomes for people and communities.
We can anticipate further patient care and healthcare administration breakthroughs as blockchain are utilized more broadly in the healthcare industry.
