Healthcare on Blockchain Gives Back Data Ownership to Patients

A global public healthcare database that allows for patients to own their data is something the world needs right now and in the future. This need is highlighted, especially during time of the pandemic. As the world battles against COVID-19 in an attempt to control and stop its spread, which has already killed millions, healthcare data management is more important than ever.

Governments and healthcare providers need to maximize the use of innovative technology in order to stop the pandemic. At present, data exists in data silos, which means that public and private institutions own and control patients’ data. This makes it very difficult to consolidate and share data across institutions, states and countries—something that is very much needed now with having accurate and consolidated COVID-19 data of utmost importance in preventing its spread and saving lives.

Healthcare on blockchain is the perfect combination that can resolve these issues and provide more benefits for patients, such as data ownership. It must be taken advantage of to successfully fight against the present virus and whatever diseases the future holds. EHR Data, a Texas-based company and a subsidiary of the National Health Coalition (NHC), is doing just this by developing a global and public patient record (GPR) platform that allows for patient information to be updated in real time.

“Being a single source of truth and all of the patients’ data being in one place, what we’re going to be able to offer is that this will be a global solution. That’s why we call it GPR, a global patient record. And when we integrate with a provider that’s providing healthcare data, whether that’s a pharmacy, a doctor, a prescriber, a lab, a radiologist or whatever, we go through an authentication process that’s very similar to a KYC process. So, all of the providers are authenticated. And when they submit data to us, we actually attach their provider ID to that data,” EHR Data Chief Scientist Ron Austring said during Sir Anthony Ritossa’s 13th Global Family Office Investment Summit in Dubai, where Bitcoin Association, a Switzerland-based organization pushing for blockchain development, was featured.

According to EHR Data’s website, their “top priority is and always will be patient safety. If it’s not good for the patient, it’s not good for us. EHR Data is empowering patients to safely own and share their health and wellness information globally to healthcare providers.” With this kind of system in place, patients have control over their own data. Changing doctors, clinics or hospitals will not be a problem anymore as their medical history is in their hands.

“Think about your family. Think about your loved ones. That’s who we’re thinking about. Our aim is to be responsible stewards of your most private data—your health data. The Bitcoin SV blockchain allows us to ensure the person’s health data is unalterable, secure and auditable,” Austring said during an interview.

And this is why Bitcoin SV (BSV) is fully committed to supporting healthcare on blockchain. The healthcare industry, which keeps everyone safe, needs innovative technology to better serve the world and safeguard its future.