Summa Health

Blockchain technology is the future of medical storage and electronic prescribing. It is a system that records various transactions on an immutable ledger across a peer-to-peer network. Every transaction authorizes specific data on a "block" that cannot be altered once sent across the network, creating a ledger that gives a complete record of all transactions. Every transaction creates a new block added to the chain. The more transactions one has on the chain, the more secure the chain becomes. Once a transaction has been enacted and the appropriate data has been recorded, a timestamp is then placed on the block. This transaction time can then be tracked on the ledger, allowing the ease of recording data more securely and providing tools to track any transaction enacted on a network. The blockchain will enable users to view data with appropriate permission like the exact time someone performed a transaction and any other data that is recorded, which cannot be altered.

This process is inherently more secure than traditional centralized data systems. The blocks are stored on each node of the network and are encrypted so that it is not possible to make changes later without changing all the following nodes. The peer-to-peer network that gives blockchain its myriad benefits is governed by smart contracts. These smart contracts are instructions given to the network of peer-topeer nodes that automate transactions across a vast network with different rules and regulations, but all governed by similar logic. These smart contracts can be tailored for individual users based on their current needs. Therefore, a blockchain can serve as an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a more secure, verifiable, and permanent way than current electronic prescribing systems.

The use of blockchain technology in medicine is increasing exponentially. Adoption of blockchain technology could bring both potential costs and savings. Unfortunately, healthcare today suffers from fragmented datasets, delayed communications, disparate workflow issues caused by a lack of interoperability, and difficulties with credentialing. Blockchain allows data across multiple independent systems to be accessed simultaneously and immediately by those with sufficient permissions. This interfacing of different systems reduces medical and financial errors and reduces administrative delays. The use of smart contracts allows patients' consent preferences to be executed immediately, further reducing administrative costs. Additionally, blockchain supports high-throughput data analysis as well as machine learning AI strategies. Blockchain represents an innovative vehicle to manage medical records, ensuring interoperability without compromising security. It also protects patient privacy, allowing patients to choose who can view their data. Investments into this technology would be outweighed by returns as the interfacing of systems leads to increased collaboration between patients and healthcare providers and improved healthcare outcomes.

The use of blockchain technology for electronic prescribing is in its infancy. System ease of use is often measured in time and functionality in accessing the needed information to treat the patient. Blockchain has the advantage of using distributive ledger technology to provide relational databases centered around the patient and is more easily accessible by the clinician. Use of the certain blockchain-based e-prescribing systems significantly saved time on the prescription writing process and influenced the decision of the prescriber by offering more data about drug price transparency, drug interactions, and therapeutic alternatives. Using the blockchain to patch together multiple disparate databases allow for certain applications to access realtime information more readily and can store the data more securely to be used again.

Future enhancements in the e-prescribing space with blockchain will be the use of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to attach prescription history to an individual via a unique wallet address. That way a patient can be in control of their medication history, make it more interoperable with their providers, and seek prescription refills or drug price transparency all on their own. This will empower the individual to make better-informed decisions around their medications and keep track of their medications much easier.