How Blockchain Can Help Solve the Healthcare Professionals' Shortage?

What is Blockchain in Healthcare?

Blockchain is a decentralized ledger that functions as a type of electronic record management system. It’s the technology that underpins bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Rather than being held in centralized locations, like a bank or government office, blockchain information is distributed among a network of computers across the globe, making it theoretically impossible to tamper with. Blockchain is proving to be a potentially disruptive technology in many industries, including healthcare

Healthcare institutions, vendors, and suppliers are increasingly looking to blockchain as a way to capture, store, and transmit health information, including medical records. This can help improve security and avoid costly cyberattacks. It’s also helping to streamline the process of managing medical records and finding clinical information.

How Blockchain Can Solve The Shortage of Healthcare Professionals?

The healthcare industry is facing a shortage of more than 70,000 health and allied health professionals by 2022. While there is a wide range of roles that are available in this sector, it’s difficult to recruit qualified professionals due to the demanding nature of work, the long period of training required, and the high cost of living in many parts of the world. With the need for these workers being critical, the use of blockchain technology could prove to be an innovative solution.

Blockchain-enabled healthcare systems and applications could help to reduce the shortage of healthcare professionals by providing a secure, accessible way to store and transfer medical records. In this way, these systems could make it easier for professionals to find work, as well as help them gain recognition for their skills and experience. Moreover, these kinds of solutions could also help to reduce health system costs.

Blockchain Technology Transforming the Healthcare Industry

Blockchain technology has the potential to transform the healthcare industry by providing secure, transparent, and efficient solutions for managing and sharing patient data. Here are some ways in which blockchain technology can help healthcare professionals-

1. Secure Patient Data Management: Blockchain technology can provide a secure and tamper-proof way to manage patient data. Patient data can be stored on the blockchain, where it is encrypted and only accessible to authorized parties. This can prevent data breaches and protect patient privacy.

2. Interoperability and Data Sharing: Blockchain technology can enable seamless data sharing and interoperability between different healthcare providers, allowing healthcare professionals to access patient data from anywhere. This can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

3. Clinical Trials and Research: Blockchain technology can provide a secure and transparent way to conduct clinical trials and research. By using blockchain, researchers can ensure that patient data is kept private and secure while still being able to share data with other researchers.

4. Supply Chain Management: Blockchain technology can be used to track and manage the supply chain of drugs and medical devices. This can improve transparency and accountability in the supply chain, reducing the risk of counterfeit drugs and improving patient safety.

5. Payment and Claims Processing: Blockchain technology can provide a secure and transparent way to process payments and claims in the healthcare industry. By using blockchain, healthcare professionals can ensure that payments are accurate and timely, reducing administrative costs and improving patient satisfaction.

Overall, blockchain technology has the potential to improve efficiency, transparency, and security in the healthcare industry, making it easier for healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care to patients.

Benefits of Using Blockchain in Healthcare

There are numerous benefits to using blockchain technology in healthcare. Here are some of the key advantages:

1.       Secure Data Management: One of the biggest benefits of blockchain in healthcare is its ability to provide secure data management. The decentralized nature of blockchain ensures that patient data is encrypted and only accessible to authorized parties, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring patient privacy.