Blockchain and Healthcare Systems: Integration of Blockchain in Healthcare Informatics-An Updated Review

Abstract

Background: Healthcare systems face major challenges with data security, management costs, and inefficient information sharing across diverse stakeholders. Traditional healthcare information systems struggle to address these issues, especially concerning privacy and trust. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized, immutable, and secure nature, presents a promising solution to these challenges by improving data integrity and transparency.

Aim: This review aims to examine the integration of blockchain technology into healthcare informatics, exploring its potential to enhance data security, streamline data sharing, and improve the overall management of healthcare information.

Methods: The review synthesizes existing literature on blockchain's applications in healthcare. It evaluates various blockchain models, such as private, public, and consortium blockchains, and their specific uses in patient data management, medical record sharing, and cost management. Additionally, the review assesses the scalability and security of blockchain-based systems in healthcare contexts.

Results: The study identifies blockchain as a transformative tool that can address existing challenges in healthcare systems, such as data breaches, inefficiencies, and privacy concerns. Blockchain-based systems are found to enhance trust between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring secure and transparent sharing of health data. The use of consensus algorithms and Distributed Data Storage Systems (DDSS) further improves data management.

Conclusion: Blockchain technology has significant potential to disrupt healthcare systems by providing a decentralized and secure infrastructure for electronic health records (EHR). It can also address key issues such as privacy, security, and inefficiencies, ultimately leading to more effective and transparent healthcare management.