Blockchain Health Registries: Improving Patient Information Accessibility
Understanding the Blockchain Concept
Blockchain does not automatically mean cryptocurrency or specifically Bitcoin. As a stand-alone technology, it doesn’t necessarily involve any notion of currency. At its core, it is a platform ready to sustain any app project aiming to have a shared database or operations system/workflow (it’s basically a distributed database). If your operations need space for transactions and exchange of info without your company being the intermediary for all details, you could think of using a blockchain platform to develop your next project.
An easy way to understand blockchain technology and decentralization is by thinking about Google Docs vs Office Suite. We used to send a Word document back and forth to exchange edits and come up with a final draft. Google Docs allows for storing the draft in the cloud and multiple editors working on it at the same time, while the document updates itself.
“For healthcare specifically, 55% of healthcare executives believe that blockchain technology will disrupt the healthcare industry.” (source)
The blockchain is an ever-growing database having millions of records stored by multiple users at the same time, anyone having the ability to edit and check the information at the same time and be in the know of what the last edits were and how they influence the main “document”.
Decentralizing Health Registries
Since the 1999’s, the concept of eHealth was slowly replacing more traditional healthcare systems. Entire databases and patient data were moved and manipulated via electronic processes and communication systems. As they grow in complexity and volume, data breachings are even more dangerous, as they can affect the privacy and access to information.
“In the world of healthcare today, there are two major focuses that must be addressed: data security and data ownership. Sensitive medical records currently lack a secure structure, leading to data breaches with severe consequences. In 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received notifications of many data breaches that resulted in the exposure of 13 million total healthcare records.” (source)
The medical industry is susceptible to data breaches, that’s why a digital shared ledger like the blockchain technology offers the possibility of sharing patient data safely, providing multiple access points that can also help medical teams collaborate better for studies or patient care.
Patient data privacy is a very sensitive topic. With the growth of health registries in many countries around the world, there is an increasing need for a secure platform that allows both space and speed able to process such a large amount of data in a secure and reliable manner.
Data breaches not only have a direct impact on sensitive information being exposed. A failing database can become a huge expense for the healthcare sector. In an area where costs are already high up, adding to the existing amount proves to be an issue we need to take care of as fast as we can.
“Another concern is that patients are currently unable to have full ownership of their own medical data, a notion that is increasing in relevance with the rise of personalized medicine and wearables.” (source)
Cryptographic algorithms used in blockchain technology can ensure data security and thus a safer way for patients to access their information.
“This new cryptographic framework based on multiple levels of encryption maximizes security. Sharing of healthcare data in a secure way is also an integral part of healthcare.” (source)
Blockchain is on the cutting-edge of transforming the healthcare system. At its core a decentralized system, it can improve accessibility and security of patient information, and therefore build a new system in which patients manage their own care. Information accessibility is crucial in the current healthcare environment, which aims to become more patient-centric.
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