Debate - If Blockchain Will Revolutionize Healthcare, Hype or Truth?

Updated : Aug 21, 2023
Blockchain for Healthcare

Quick Summary: Like every other technological innovation, blockchain has made a huge impact on the healthcare industry, from keeping patient data safe to improving supply chain management for medications. This article touches on that exact topic and extensively explains how this technology is making healthcare smarter and more patient-centric. Stay tuned!

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform several industries, including healthcare. Enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency in the handling of medical data can help the healthcare sector in tremendous ways.

It can streamline processes and improve the accuracy of diagnoses and treatments by creating a secure, decentralized ledger of patient information. However, the widespread adoption and implementation of blockchain in healthcare is still in its early stages and faces several challenges, such as regulatory hurdles and concerns over data privacy.

Yet again, looking at how big organizations like Google, Microsoft, and others are investing in blockchain research for healthcare, it appears that there must be something to this technology, which makes us think that it isn’t just hyped.

If you are still not convinced, let’s look at the digits. According to research conducted by PR Newswire, the blockchain technology in healthcare market size will be expected to reach $7308 million by 2028, with an increased CAGR of 76.30% from 2021 to 2028.

Here in this blog, we will look into the aspects of blockchain and healthcare, and how it can revolutionize the healthcare sector. We will also consider blockchain usage in the healthcare industry and the challenges that need to be overcome before this technology can be completely adopted. Are you excited to learn more about this? Let’s get started!

On This Page
  1. What is Blockchain in Healthcare?
  2. How is Blockchain Transforming the Healthcare Industry?
  3. Blockchain use cases in Healthcare Industry
  4. Challenges of Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Industry
  5. The Future of Blockchain in Healthcare
  6. Conclusion
  7. Frequently Asked Questions

What is Blockchain in Healthcare?

Blockchain is a popular technology being used in the healthcare industry. Medical records and health data are safely managed and stored there. The technology is renowned for providing a secure, decentralized platform for a variety of purposes.

Blockchain for healthcare data can store sensitive health information and allow for better tracking, sharing, and management of healthcare data among patients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies.

It can enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and security of the healthcare system while also protecting patient privacy. All in all, blockchain can be a game-changer for the healthcare sector, as it can make the entire system more efficient and effective.

This is all about blockchain in healthcare today, but do you want a guide for successful healthcare software development? Read our blog now!

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How is Blockchain Transforming the Healthcare Industry?

The niche of healthcare software solutions has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry. It is expected to grow exponentially in the upcoming years. There are several advantages that technology brings to the healthcare sector. The list of benefits includes data security, data monitoring, and more. Are you wondering how this trending technology is changing the spheres of the healthcare niche? Read on to learn more about medical blockchain transformation.

Benefits of Blockchain for Healthcare

1. Blockchain Enhances Data Security

Blockchain technology data structures have inherited security qualities because they are based on several aspects. It provides confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity to its users. In layman’s language, the data retention of blockchain is safe and secure for all industries. Do you want comprehension of healthcare SaaS startups? Refer to our guide now!

2. It Makes Record Management Efficient

A blockchain-based record management system helps significantly enhance the medical industry’s administrative tasks. Because of the encryption standards of the technology, it can store large amounts of data in a decentralized way. As a result, it makes management much more efficient than you might have ever imagined.

3. It is Useful for Patient Authentication

Healthcare institutions can now use blockchain technology for patient authentication purposes. It helps in making patient records more secure and reliable. It helps the healthcare sector in enhancing the level of trust among medical professionals.

4. It Eases the Medical Communications

A significant number of medical professionals believe that blockchain technology is far better than email for communicating with patients. It is more convenient to use blockchain-based tools to send invoices, health records, and other important documents as they are securely encrypted using digital signatures.

Get more information: Telehealth – The upscale health IT needed.

5. It Offers 24/7 Data Monitoring

Continuous data monitoring is crucial in the healthcare sector. It is vital, especially when it comes down to the management and optimization of electronic health records. Blockchain technology can provide 24/7 data availability. It can enhance electronic health records management with its distributed nature.

6. Get Enhanced Clinical Trials

The clinical trial process is lengthy and complicated. It can lead to delays and inefficiencies, impacting the success of clinical trials. The use of blockchain in healthcare has the potential to solve these problems by providing a secure and transparent way to store and manage clinical trial data, making it simple to analyze errors and track the data.

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7. Helps in Billing Management

It is a part of the process where the filing and processing of medical claims related to the patient’s medication, diagnosis, and treatments are conducted. Blockchain technology eliminates the aspect of fraud. It works around recording medical data and storing it in the open digital ledger. It works in a way that if any changes are made, it is visible to everyone who is a part of the blockchain.

Looking at these tremendous benefits that come along with using blockchain, we do know that it is transforming the healthcare sector. Now let us unleash the use cases of blockchain technology.

Blockchain use cases in Healthcare Industry

Blockchain healthcare use cases go way beyond the medical industry. Here are some common uses of blockchain in the healthcare sector:

Applications of Blockchain in Healthcare

1) Healthcare Data Management

A significant number of medical professionals believe that blockchain technology is far better than email for communicating with patients. It is more convenient to use blockchain-based tools to send invoices, health records, and other important documents as they are securely encrypted using digital signatures.

2) Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring is an important part of the health-related services offered by medical institutions. With blockchain technology adoption in healthcare, this task can be significantly enhanced. Remote patient monitoring can be made more efficient as it works around recording medical data and storing it in the open digital ledger.

3) Electronic Medical Records

EHR blockchain can enable better medical management by making data more secure and reliable. Blockchain software development for medical records can help healthcare institutions enhance their administrative tasks, while also providing an open platform for all to view and use the information.

Read more: EHR software development and how to build it from scratch.

4) Fraud Detection

The use of blockchain technology to identify types of healthcare fraud has been prevalent in different countries around the world. It helps reduce the level of fraud inefficiency, as it allows for enhanced data tracking and review. Unnecessary costs can be saved, while the level of security in the healthcare sector will improve.

5) Patient Authentication

Patient authentication is a continuous process that involves patient identification, registration, and authentication. Healthcare institutions can use blockchain technology to enhance the extent of trust among patients and medical professionals. Blockchain technology helps in making patient records more secure and reliable. It helps the healthcare sector in enhancing the level of trust among medical professionals.

These are a few use cases of blockchain healthcare solutions. If you are an enthusiast of medical care insurance and want an insight into health insurance software, refer to our guide for the same.

Challenges of Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Industry

Blockchain technology can solve most of the challenges faced in the healthcare industry. However, there are areas where blockchain technology is still at an early stage and can pose problems. This would you to hire expert blockchain programmers and navigate the following issues.

1) Connectivity Issues

Blockchain has a wider array of issues when it comes to connectivity. Therefore, it requires high bandwidth and low latency to work in the healthcare sector. For example, a blockchain-based system will not work on islands without internet connections.

Additionally, hospitals that use Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or hospital Wi-Fi networks may also be affected because they broadcast their Blockchain data over these networks.

2) Data Size

Healthcare stakeholders generate a significant volume of medical data. Due to the block size restriction, these values can rapidly exceed the amount of data that can be kept in a standard blockchain architecture.

As a result, a thoroughly thought-out architecture will prove to be an obvious brilliant answer, with the system's components produced by storing the on- and off-chain data after carefully researching the data types, which would make sense in the respective domains.

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3) Data Immutability

Blockchain technology is known for its immutable data. This immutable data is an excellent security measure against fraud and the benefits of blockchain technology. However, it can be a significant challenge for organizations that need to share information about patients with multiple healthcare organizations and third parties.

Healthcare firms are not usually allowed to share patient information without patient consent, and even if there is consent from the patient, it might require a longer period than traditional systems when sharing such information.

The Future of Blockchain in Healthcare

Before you dive into the future of blockchain in healthcare, you must know how custom software development is transforming the future of the healthcare industry.

Without any further ado, moving on to the future of blockchain in healthcare industry.

The future of blockchain healthcare applications is bright. Organizations can use it to provide enhanced levels of security and transparency across the healthcare sector. Blockchain can also be used to protect against fraud while making patient records more secure and reliable.

In addition, blockchain technology with innovative medical software development for healthcare can significantly enhance the process of medical records management. Healthcare organizations will be able to develop a secure and transparent way to store and manage clinical trial data, making it simple to analyze errors and track data.

In the coming years, we expect to see new applications of blockchain in healthcare, big data analytics systems, and applications for remote patient monitoring.

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ConclusionFrom highly secure and transparent data storage to distributed systems that are capable of balancing long-term needs, blockchain solutions for healthcare providers are a much-needed escape for healthcare. The technology can be implemented in hospitals, clinics, and other medical establishments to boost efficiency.Furthermore, Blockchain in the healthcare arena has many possible use cases, making it a great addition to the existing technology of healthcare organizations. With so many positive qualities that blockchain technology provides in healthcare, it is only a matter of time before we witness an increase in adoption rates from organizations everywhere.As a leading provider of healthcare software development services, Radixweb can help you with your Blockchain for healthcare. Our experts can help you get started with blockchain technology and ensure that you can maximize the benefits of the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can blockchain help the healthcare industry?

How does blockchain technology store data?

Can blockchain technology reduce fraud?

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Maitray Gadhavi is a Vice President of Sales at Radixweb who accelerates the growth of organizations through innovation-led custom software development. Balancing the long-term gains in an evolving industry, he brings the voice of the customers into the enterprise. Binge-watching favourite series is his idea of fun after work.