Toronto-based research hospital University Health Network (UHN) is working with IBM, eHealth Ontario, and the Blockchain Research Institute on a blockchain health records platform.
Healthsystems are complex, and the diverse network of caregivers makes itchallenging to share patient data. On the other hand, patients havelittlevisibilityover how and with whom their data is shared. The UHN is leveragingblockchain to enable secure sharing of health data, controlled bypatients and based on individual consent.
“It’sdifficult for patients to have a unified view of all of their data,of all of the providers who sit in different places, in differentorganizations,” said David Wiljer, UHN’s executive director ofEducation Technology Innovation told TheStar.
Theproject participants have developed a mobile application , allowingpatients to control who sees their data and when. Currently, the appprovides access to only UHN-produced data, but Wiljer said he seesthe potential to enable patients to control and access all their datain one place.
Ina blogpost byIBM, it said the system uses a private permissioned blockchain(HyperledgerFabric),and enable secure access to electronic health records (EHR). Theproject’s initial focus is on sharing data for research purposes.
Meanwhile,the blockchain itself does not store patient data. In this case, theconsent directive is recorded by a blockchain, with the patient usingthe mobile app to grant access to parties when requested.
Blockchainfor health data management is a popular testusecase due to the current siloed structure of the healthcare industry.IBM has experience in managing health data using blockchain, and lastyear worked with Hu-manity.co tolaunch the My31 App. The app enables users to control the use oftheir healthcare information.
IBMis also part of a blockchain healthcareconsortium alongwith Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC),Sentara and PNC Bank.
Chineseinternet giant Baidu hasa blockchain solution for securely sharing and distributing medicaldata. It stores health records, including diagnoses, treatments andprescriptions, and is based on Baidu’s XuperChain.
InTaiwan, the Hospitalof Taipei Medical University launcheda blockchain for smart health passports and sharing medical databetween health organizations.
