INTRODUCTION
Health care is an act and science-based process provided by health care professionals and institutions that promote, maintain or restore good health services to the people thereby preventing illnesses and wellbeing. It involves wide range of medical care and services, preventive measures, diagnostics, treatment, support and education. Also, it focuses on the mental, physical and emotional health need of the people.
As a system, it involves a very complex and multifaceted but related network of organization, professional, regulations, resources etc that work closely to deliver medical care and services, promotes health, and manage health allied concerns within the human societies. It have several components with their unique features, function and responsibilities that promotes wellness, prevent illness and health.
Although the medical care and services within the system are very crucial and important aspect of human endeavors to promote the health of the people but they are challenged while discharging their duties and services.
SOME CHALLENGES FACED DURING HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Health care professionals and institutions faced several challenges during their functions but blockchain can address these problems and improve their services. Let's explore some of the challenges.
UNCOMPHENSIVE AND UNSHARED MEDICAL RECORDS
Improper documentation, difficult in location of the patient record and unclear written information due to poor handwriting, wrong terminology, incomplete information, poorly keep or tagging and disorganized formatting can be a problem for which leads to misunderstanding among health care professionals, wrong diagnoses, compromised patient care, confused medications, and informed medical decisions which have resulted in serious injuries and death.
Strong implications can resulted when medical records are not effectively shared among the system to care for the patient. The medical records and data of the patient are very crucial and should be shared optimally through the various sectors and professionals deem necessary for the treatment, support and care of the patient. Patient and family health information, test results and other relevant data should be accessible among the health care system to avoid fragmented care, redundant tests, delayed diagnosis and compromised patient care.
FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Deliberate and deceptive activities perpetuated within the health institutions and insurance to obtain financial gain through fraudulent claims, misrepresentation and unauthorized use of health resources. Dishonest personals and systems involve in these crimes at various stages and health sectors which have inflict negative financial, ethical and health implications on the patient and the system.
Healthcare can submit claim or budget is very expensive than the procedure and services rendered. In the billing, they can break down the single payment into multiple billable components to make it very costly during payment. They can mandated for reimbursements of the procedure and services which was not rendered or indicate unnecessary treatment, text and procedure for their financial gain.
FAKE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Unlicensed and untrained health care professionals practice on the institution thereby endangering the lives of the patient and affecting the the procedure of the health sectors. Verification of the medical license and credentials of the professionals can be time-consuming and error-prone making it very difficult to proper sensitisation of the health care system.
Instances of unethical and poor health care services which have resulted to numerous loss of lives are skyrocketing and alarming because of untrained and unlicensed professionals within the system. They engage unheard and unguarded procedure while performing their service which affect the health care system.
HOW BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY CAN ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES AND IMPROVE THE SYSTEM
For the sampled challenges mentioned above which are few of the numerous challenges of the health can be solved by blockchain technology in these ways.
INTEROPERABILITY AND DATA SECURITY
Blockchain enhance the electronic health records (EHRs) which is a digitalized patient's medical history, patient information and other relevant data making it more comprehensive, useful and accessible thereby enabling the health care professionals and institutions to store, manage and share patient data efficiently.
Blockchain empowered by cryptographic function will be improved the security of the data to discourage identity theft and make the data temper-proof on which patient can control their accessible of their data by granting permissions through smart contract which can even programmed to fetch real information, saved and grant access.
The Decentralization of blockchain technology can enhance security and sharing of medical data and record through the system even across the borders while maintaining compliance with the privacy and ethical laws.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Blockchain can create an improved and transparent process in which all the medical financial record can be validate and verified publicly. Once the payment are made in Cryptocurrency, the transaction block are validate as immutable records and store on chain for easy accessibility, transparent and integrity. Smart Contracts can automate the billing and payment process and record the report on real time to checkmate the fraudulent activities, enhance accuracy and pervent financial losses.
Blockchain based record on the clinical procedure can ensure transparency and prevent data manipulation which is injurious to health. This process will improve accountability and credibility of the clinical research and development.
CREDIBILITY AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT
Blockchain can create secure and easy accessible database of trained, license and verified health care personals and facilities thereby streamlining the hectic and archaic recording of health practitioners which are error-prone and tempered while hiring process and their accurate information.
Verification based on blockchain technology are simple and easy on the decentralized ledgers than cumbersome process of traditional means. The cryptographic function can reduce the possibility of bribe and corruption as the door will be close for the infiltration of unqualified and untrained personals. The complete records of the health equipment and facilities as well as track their functions and usage in order to promote health status can be possible with blockchain technology.
CONCLUSION
Blockchain technology have the potential to improve the health care system of various levels by creating a secure and transparent process which will be effective in medical billing and transactions. It can promote data sharing through its interoperable capabilities ensuring that the record are accurate and accessible while maintaining the privacy.
Blockchain can create a secure and standardized platform where patient data and information are collected, stored and accessible by authorized members of the health care system thereby improve the integrity and privacy of the data while promote the good health services. In the decentralized ledgers, the immutable records of every patient can be safely recorded and saved once being validated for proper accessibility and usage.