The prominent industries have felt the power of Blockchain in 2017; there is no denying that this revolutionary technology has come to stay and will break through other industries in the coming years. Blockchain has proven its stability, allowing community members of different industry access the resources they need without government interference. The introduction of the Ethereum platform has increased the capabilities and possibilities that blockchain can enforce in the different industries. Among the industries being disrupted are Banking, Music, Charity, and Healthcare.
A NEW HEALTH PARADIGM
Blockchain technology has the potential to transform healthcare, establishing a mutual relationship between patients and doctors. The security and privacy of health data are guaranteed, with information exchange being more efficient. Blockchain is a ground-breaking panacea providing a fertile ground for experimentation, investment and proof of research. The promise blockchain holds for the health industry is boundless and will have an extensive impact on members of the
healthcare sector.
Hospitals have recurrently awaited a system that standardizes electronic health record, to reduce the complexities of the systems supply chain. Medical practitioners are still having difficulties accessing the patient. The consequence of this is an interruption in the medical supply chain, and the inability for health workers to
avail services at the proper time. Poor data accessibility has its effect on medical personnel – reports by MAYO CLINIC [3] says doctors got physically more burnt out trying to streamline the ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) [4]. The present healthcare system has difficulties in building the right patient-centric system; where patients can have access to healthcare regardless of financial ability or location. The deficiency of system that can’t easily share statistics causes inefficiency.
BLOCKCHAIN OFFERINGS FOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Blockchain has become the most popular health strategy among health technologists; the unique security benefits make it incredibly appealing to doctors. Blockchain promises translation of not just the digital sphere but the entirety of the healthcare industry.
PATIENT-GENERATED DATA AND ENCRYPTION – it allows encryption of data and security of information. These data can be stored in simple forms leaving out complexities in accessing patient history. These data consist of health apps, home devices, and monitoring apps. Blockchain allows recorded history and encrypted links to medical records, which the patient has total control of whom to share with, what to upload, etc. This medium would enable seamless access to historical and
real-time patient data while eliminating the burden and cost of data reconciliation. An example of irrevocable data is the KEYLESS SIGNATURE INFRASTRUCTURE (KSI [5]), employed by Estonia Health System to protect the health records of Estonians.
BILL MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS – the U.S. in 2016, reported a medical fraud amounting up to $30 million. Excessive billing and non-performance billing services make up 10% of medical fraud across America. Blockchain technology will provide bill management solutions, which will secure and make the healthcare billing system more transparent – to reduce technical, administrative and probably for fraud. There are also the issues of service claims which are not readily available to patients, thereby prompting Gem Health [6] – a blockchain applications provider to develop a healthcare claims solutions.
MEDICAL SUPPLY-CHAIN RELIABILITY – there is so much fraudulence in the system and traction has been far from possible. Some counterfeit drugs available in developing countries range between 35%-45%, while the global healthcare industry incurs over $250 billion in counterfeit and theft on the supply chain.
ADVANCED DIGITAL LEDGER TECHNOLOGY (ADLT) [7] is an app currently undergoing testing on the blockchain system; it is being developed to ensure integrity in logistics from production to product delivery level of every individual drug.
PHARMA RESEARCH AND POPULATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT – A Blockchain-enabled system, will reduce the inaccuracies in health report and the over 60 % of health surveys that are not submitted. The incidence of selective reporting and errors in clinical research will be mitigated – this will birth precisions in the clinical study, management of population health and accurate predictions of coming outbreaks.
PATIENT-CENTRIC DENTISTRY – Dentacoin is the first blockchain concept designed for the global dental industry – the platform aims at improving dental healthcare and making it affordable. Through numerous smart Blockchain-based solutions and a common industry-specific currency, all market participants are seamlessly connected, able to efficiently cooperate with each other and to generate personal and mutual benefits. Dentacoin is an Ethereum-based coin that offers new opportunities in dentistry as it is creating a patient-centricity for the dental ecosystem while implying possible value multiplication of the integrated cryptocurrency. The company has already developed its first three Blockchain-based products: a platform for trustworthy feedback for dental services (Dentacoin Trusted Reviews), a market research platform (DentaVox) and a mobile app helping people to maintain proper dental care (DentaCare). The currency DCN is currently accepted as a means of payment for dental treatment at 21 clinics worldwide, showing the potential for real-life adoption of such innovative solutions.
BLOCKCHAIN HAS A PLACE FOR HEALTHCARE
The global healthcare has myriad of challenges, prominently in developing countries and blockchain provides solutions with ease. The technology creates opportunities to reduce complexities, resistances and is creating a secure system for conclusive information. The blockchain technology is offering many efficiencies and disrupting the financial landscape in Banking and more recently music through the rise of UJO MUSIC [8] and STEM. With the emergence of platforms such
as Dentacoin, the health system should be prepared for a revolution that will shape its future.