Richard Shute, PhD, consultant for technology research and development company The Pistoia Alliance in Wakefield, Massachusetts, shares tips on the best ways health care can integrate blockchain technology and the potential benefits it can have on EHRs.
The answers have been slightly modified for clarity and length.
Question: where is now the blockchain in the health sector and how will it develop in 2019?
Dr. Richard Shute: The health and life sciences industries are starting to consider the potential of blockchain technology. In recent years we have witnessed a greater awareness of technology and several organizations that have begun to experience it. As with the introduction of any new technology in the healthcare industry, the widespread implementation of blockchain will be a gradual process.
According to our research last year, 40% of health and life sciences organizations still have no plans to adopt blockchain, and only a little over 25% are trying to take the first steps in the blockchain journey by designing to make a proof of concept project. While this means that almost two thirds of companies are not currently doing any formal blockchain work, if we ask the same questions at the end of 2019, that picture will be very different.
Q: What do you think will be the most significant blockchain applications in the healthcare sector over the next five years?
RS: Two areas in which health professionals believe that blockchain technology can have a significant impact on the sharing of scientific data and CECs.
Blockchain has the potential to lower the risk barriers currently associated with data sharing and collaboration and thus enable such a market for scientific data. Those of an organization that are more risk-averse would be more likely to support larger data sharing and collaboration, opening even greater possibilities for drug discovery and development based on the volumes of data that would now be available.
The use of a blockchain can also offer patients access and control over how their medical data are used. In the future, patients could even give individual companies access to "blocks" of their data for specific research purposes – possibly even paid to allow such access. In addition, it will enable medical organizations to ensure the security of records and to safeguard the process of transferring or sharing patients' medical data with other institutions or specialists.
Q: What do the blockbenches of blockchain hospitals and healthcare systems know today?
RS: One of the biggest obstacles to the health industry is access to the right skills or the ability to recruit appropriately qualified personnel. To reach the potential of the blockchain, as an industry, we must ensure that organizations have access to people, skills and technology platforms to complete their blockchain projects. In many cases, this will involve collaboration with the technology industry to bridge the blockchain talent gap. Sharing skills, knowledge, skills and best practices will be the best way for companies to overcome the barriers to the use of blockchains.
To attend the future Becker question and answer session, contact Jackie Drees at [email protected].
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