eHealth: Challenges Far Integrating BlockChain within Healthcare

This paper discusses the use of Blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the healthcare domain, identifying areas where current processes can be enhanced through the use of these new digital technologies while highlighting the issues these early developments present for an industry that is averse to risk, yet open to new technologies that improve patient safety and survival. The report discusses two uses of IoT with Blockchain as examples for the industry with many other possibilities being adoptable in a proposed single architecture that would integrate industry procedures to a common platform. While identifying technological improvements to the industry the paper also identifies the practical aspects of such a development, with varying interests across the sector, restricted funds and advancing computing power all being significant factors in whether and how to invest in such technologies. With reference to other industry attempts to make improved decisions from IoT technologies, the necessity for industry representation and leadership is seen as a significant factor in the success of any large-scale industry-wide development of a size where significant industry improvements would be achieved. While small scale isolated projects can assist individual institutions the savings industry-wide from these is likely to be much less significant than a single platform addressing total industry issues, however, the complexity in achieving this is not to be underestimated. A government body or the healthcare industry, is potentially required to coordinate the design and implementation, compiling the scope and design documentation with funding and development/implementation being provided for the industry as a whole. The paper concludes that the technologies can offer considerable technical advantages to healthcare but these are in the early stages of development. The opportunities and requirements for healthcare are significant and need early consideration and industry coordination, using existing network developments as a basis for healthcare platform designs and developed specifically to address the needs of the industry.