Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Implementing a robust and interoperable system of EHR can ensure appropriate treatment globally. And yet, our electronic health record (EHR) systems are lacking behind, plagued with issues like lack of interoperability, lack of secure accessibility, and lack of better security. These growing concerns, followed by breaches, frauds, and data thefts prevent healthcare providers from offering quality patient care. These systems also face problems regarding integrity, privacy, and management.

As a distributed ledger protocol composed of encrypted blocks of data organized in chains, blockchain represents a potential tool to solve the shortcomings of EHRs in terms of interoperability and privacy. It offers several key features to enhance EHRs:

• Interoperability: An electronic health record based on the blockchain unlocks true interoperability by connecting fragmented systems across countries and regions.
• Security: With blockchain, healthcare data can be stored immutably in a decentralized manner instead of storing in one database. As a result, there would be no single point of entry for a hacker to retrieve the data.
• Authorization: Blockchain enables patients with better control of their data. Once the data is stored on the blockchain and assigned to the public key, the patient can provide access to the data to only the required authorities.
• Transparency: Every node on blockchain stores a copy of the data which is updated in real-time. Thus, any alteration or corruption to the health data will be immediately spotted. The system also signs every transaction with a cryptographic stamp which allows tracing back to the origin of every piece of data.

Implementing a blockchain-based medical record system ensures some exciting changes to the industry ensuring quality care for the patients. The benefits of blockchain-based electronic health records are clear:

• Efficiency: There is no need for time-consuming and costly paperwork with a blockchain-based EHR. Electronic health records are simple to distribute across providers.
• Seamless Patient Data Exchange: A unified, interoperable platform enables efficient data exchange, improving the continuity and quality of care.
• Empowered Patients: Patients gain unprecedented control over their health records, including who can access their data and for what purpose.
• Enhanced Data Integrity: Immutable records ensure the accuracy and completeness of patient information, supporting better clinical decision-making.