Implementing Blockchains for Efficient Health Care: Systematic Review

The storage and sharing of medical data (developing interoperability) are vital for improved health outcomes. Respecting privacy of sensitive information while doing this remains a big challenge in health care. The literature shows that with the appropriate regulatory guidelines and use standards, blockchain can act as a vehicle to manage consented access to EHRs. This will increase interoperability without compromising security, while also protecting patient privacy. These issues would most effectively be tackled by the use of a private or consortium-led blockchain; however, this would need to be regulated to ensure appropriate use of data. The improved interoperability and reduced long-term administrative costs would lead to improved health outcomes.

Blockchain represents a new form of technology in which the current literature is lacking in this application context, and no usage feedback or statistical comparisons with traditional systems exist. There are costs associated with transferring to a new system, and in educating health professionals and patients on how best to take advantage of it for improved health. Blockchain involves concepts unfamiliar to the vast majority of the population, such as cryptographic signature and key management. Investments into new systems would, however, be outweighed through returns. In the primary stages of implementation, the practical usefulness of the proposed system will likely depend on the end-user experience—the complexities underlying the blockchain will need to be hidden behind a sufficiently user-friendly interface such as an online or mobile app to be adopted successfully. Short-term trials will outline the most effective ways to implement such a user-friendly experience, which may be expanded thereafter.

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