This post is about MediBloc, a tool to solve current problems of healthcare information system using blockchain technology, for @OriginalWorks' sponsored writing contest, you can find more information about it here.
Over the past few years, it has been considered normal for any company to keep records of people using its services, platforms and more. From the largest companies to the small shop on the corner, keep a record of any action you need to manage everything that happens every day on the spot. It's common knowledge that hospitals also do the same processes for keeping patient records to make it easier for patients to stay, but have you ever thought about whether hospitals also suffer from the same security issues about these records, and have you ever wondered if they are able to share the necessary data between hospitals? In this way, more and more questions may arise.
Although it may not seem so, this is the reality of many hospitals, not all of them make use of the technological advances that the day to day offers us either because they cannot afford them or because they were simply assigned a system that does not help them completely to keep records either because of slowness or lack of knowledge about it.
Today, hospitals maintain their medical records in a centralized manner, governed by laws whose function is to allow access to records only with prior authorization, but these laws do not assure us that our records will not be viewed by a third party who is trying to collect information for unauthorized purposes that are not known to the hospital.
Another situation that often occurs is the lack of information is the lack of records either because of the patient's lack of collaboration, which can lead to malpractice on the part of the medical institution as it refused to share the complete information for fear of being judged, which can even lead the hospital to look for ways to disclose this information, which can lead to both positive and negative results.
Another factor that is seen without much trouble is the way in which the records are carried out. One would normally think that because we are in an era where technology moves several aspects of daily life, it also moves the way hospitals store information about who steps on their facilities either for an emergency or for a routine checkup, highlighting the fact that this way of storing records does not give patients the power to update and manage their records, which forces them to perform a series of paperwork with the hospital or medical institution in order to update their records, so that they are always present whenever a new procedure is needed, the hospital of our preference is aware of an examination that has been performed in another institution, to avoid having to perform the examination again, all this happens because of the lack of communication between hospitals regarding the multiple records that the same person may have in the hospitals of the region instead of having only one in a global manner to which the different hospitals in the region may have access under the established laws.
This is what MediBloc wants to solve with the creation of its open-source platform that makes use of blockchain to improve the experiences of its users in hospitals regardless of the reason that led them there.
What it's MediBloc?
Medibloc is a new medical platform that it seeks to change the way that medical records are managed, using the immeasurable power of the blockchain. Their goal is that the patients control whom/when and for what their medical records are viewed. On top of that, it also allows data transfer, the data can be shared with anyone the user see fit.
The advantage of using Medibloc comes a long way, you could go to any doctor you required for your specific predicament, saving all the waste of time that bureaucratic ways are most of the times, focusing in the task at hand and that task is the health and care of the user.
Currently the way that medical records are stashed up, is inefficient in every way, the insecurity they face because of their centralization and the strict privacy laws that they are subject with, resulting in a way that only makes you concerned. Medibloc will utilize their own blockchain to solvent all this problem without any limitation.
Why use Medibloc?
In the way that Medibloc official website put it, this can be reduced to 3 themes:
- Monetary Gain :
Patients can save time and money by having easier access to their health data. They can sell their health data to researchers.”
- Better Quality Care:
“Healthcare providers can reduce medical error and deliver their best care by having complete picture of individual's health info”
• Accelerating innovation:
"Researchers can make medical breakthroughs at a faster pace by having easier access to targeted health data.”
It's not get more simple and profitable than that. You save time, get money, you help to improve another people health and your own in the most efficient, secure and comfortable way there is.
Improving Medical Records with Blockchain Technology
Thanks to Medibloc, you could easily provide an accessible and complete version of the patient´s health record for healthcare providers to coordinate better and personalize their care, also having the ability to change/update the record, of course with the patient´s permission. This will allow the patients to access and control their entire medical history in a confortable way, also securing sensitive health data.
"Providing a single version of a patient’s complete health record through blockchain would allow a patient to focus on their health, instead of gathering and organizing their health information. Being able to review their health records quickly would also empower patients to be active participants in the physician-patient relationship."
Medibloc and how it can change the insurance game
For almost every policy, you have to give your medical records along with another personal information. Pretty textbook stuff, the problem comes when: you give all your relevant papers and the adjuster becomes kind of douche.
For example:
“Although you will have sent copies of all your relevant medical records along with your personal injury demand letter, the adjuster might ask for some additional record you have not provided. For example, if X-rays were taken but you’ve provided only the records from your doctor and not from the radiologist, the adjuster might ask for the radiologist’s records. Or if there is an indication of a preexisting injury, an adjuster might ask to see medical records concerning that injury.
It is up to you to decide whether the request is reasonable. If it seems to be, tell the adjuster that you will provide the records if the insurance company is willing to pay for them. There is often a small fee from the doctor’s office for copying records. If the adjuster agrees to pay for the records, confirm the agreement in writing. Then request the records yourself and review them before sending them on to the adjuster, removing any records that do not pertain to accident injuries.
Unfortunately, some adjusters like to get additional medical records just to snoop around in your medical history to see if there is anything they can use against you or used to embarrass you. If the request for additional medical records seems unreasonable -- that is, is not related to the injuries you suffered in the accident -- do not comply. Ask the adjuster to explain why the additional records are needed. If the answer doesn’t convince you, politely inform the adjuster that you do not believe the records are relevant to your claim and that providing them would intrude into your privacy. Remind the adjuster that if the claim winds up in court, the lawyers will be able to argue over this issue, but that at this point you can see no reason to allow prying into your personal medical history. Be firm with the adjuster. There is nothing wrong or suspicious about protecting your privacy.”
Medibloc & Blockchain
The healthcare industry is currently covering in data like clinical trials, patient medical records, medical research and more. Blockchain technology will help us to make this a more agile process and help improve the adoption and development of more blockchain based applications that will surely help out our way of living.
MediBloc's Road Map:
MediBloc's Team:
More Information:
Thanks for reading.
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