Healthcare: The Blockchain Series
As an industry that probably isn’t first to mind when it comes to the blockchain revolution, the healthcare sector likely poses as a textbook case study towards the positive impacts of blockchain technology.
But What Is There To Blockchain-ize?
As we all know by now, blockchain is king when it comes to data storage, transparency, and security. The healthcare sector has long been plagued by centralized systems for storage of client/patient health data, as well as the natural by-product of problems that arise with this. Need your ‘records’ transferred to another hospital/doctor? Please hold the line.
This is not to point fingers or poke holes in the established systems responsible for keeping us all alive - in fact quite the contrary. As a doctor, the ability to rapidly access patient data is paramount and second to none particularly in emergency circumstances. The current infrastructure of most centralized healthcare systems places a strong reliance on preparation and admin. But what does one do when they require the emergency room in a different territory and local doctors are unable to access health records?
It can all get pretty messy. Blockchain fixes this.
The concept of being able to access a fully decentralized healthcare system would not only save doctors and medical staff buckets of time and headaches, it could theoretically save lives. This is not just from a viewpoint of being able to rapidly access data. This is from the viewpoint of governing concepts driving decentralized projects.
For instance; envision a patient’s medical report being uploaded and minted on a decentralized healthcare blockchain. Available for select medical professionals to view and create duplicates for editing purposes. There may be rare conditions that the patient’s doctor would like further consulting regarding the pending decision for a diagnosis.
A decentralized healthcare blockchain would theoretically enable healthcare professionals from all around the world to provide feedback and opinions in ‘note’ form, directly next to the patients health records. This would not only save time for the patient to seek multiple diagnostics, but it would also raise the floor standard for medical practice around the world, enabling 3rd world countries the ability to access 1st world medical standards and processes.
A decentralized healthcare orientated blockchain could also help solve the ever-growing problem of counterfeit medication. There are multiple supply chain-management projects with a blockchain-based infrastructure already being deployed and utilized within the shipping and logistics industry; a crossover between healthcare and logistics would enable doctors/pharmacists to verify and confirm sources and suppliers, particularly in countries prone to counterfeit products.
Last But Not Least: Smart Contracts In HealthCare
The utilization of smart contracts within the healthcare sector could, again, save lives. Conditional diagnostics could essentially trigger a chain of actions to instantly follow depending on the results. For instance, upon the scan of a tumor - results can instantly be generated and sent for consensus feedback amongst the community, as well as automatically schedule the next available slot at the next available location for any required surgeries. No having to bounce between secretaries and do the puzzle pieces yourself. Envision smart contracts geared specifically for insurance purposes. Condition-based insurance policies to bring a more transparent and fair system for all with policies.