Experts envision medical blockchain applications that could give patients direct control over electronic medical records

Rage Comment : When new technologies emerge, the challenges that may arise are how to integrate blockchain technology into current networks and infrastructure, and how to ultimately enable blockchain technology to achieve business goals. Similarly, CIOs still face some risks in the process of studying blockchain in the medical field. The adoption of blockchain is gradual, not overnight. Experts in the medical field want to use blockchain technology to allow patients to directly control their health data, so patients can authorize their designated people to view designated content.

Translation: Nicole

There is a lot of interest in blockchain in the healthcare sector because it can solve some long-standing problems in medical information technology, such as interoperability and medical data security.

In form, a blockchain is an electronic public ledger that is distributed across many computer nodes and all entries. With a blockchain ecosystem, all changes in the ledger must be verified by everyone on the chain.

In addition to being the underlying technology of Bitcoin, blockchain can also make great strides in the mainstream financial industry.

In the HIT Squad podcast, Peter Nichol, a consultant at the British consulting group Boan and former director of information technology for the Connecticut health insurance exchange, discussed how health system chief information officers (CIOs) can use blockchain in healthcare.

Peter Nichol

Speaking to SearchHealthIT writers and HIT Squad members Shaun Sutner and Kristen Lee on the podcast:

“As CIOs come up with new technologies, the challenges that may arise are how to integrate blockchain technology into current networks and infrastructure, and ultimately how to make blockchain technology achieve business goals.”

Nichol, who co-authored a report on blockchain technology with health IT developer Jeff Brandt, said:

“We are still in the early stages of blockchain adoption.”

Nichol acknowledged in the podcast that there are still some risks for CIOs as they look into blockchain in healthcare, but he believes that blockchain adoption will be gradual, not overnight.

The report co-authored by Nichol and Brandt, "Co-Creation of Trust for Healthcare," was among more than 70 proposals submitted to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). ONC announced the winners Aug. 29.

As for how blockchain can improve interoperability in the healthcare sector, Nichol said the technology could give patients direct control over their health data, so they can grant access to specific content to whomever they choose.

Nichol said:

“Through blockchain technology, we can empower patients and allow them to take control of their own health records.”