In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, healthcare is not an exception. A recent study published on PubMed Central (PMC) titled “Blockchain and artificial intelligence technology in e-Health” has illuminated the potential of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the e-Health sector.
The Power of Integration
The integration of blockchain and AI can significantly enhance the medical system by improving service efficiency, reducing costs, and democratizing healthcare. Blockchain provides a platform for storing cryptographic records, which AI requires for its operations. Healthcare professionals can access the blockchain to view a patient’s medical records, while AI utilizes various proposed algorithms and decision-making capabilities, along with large quantities of data, to provide insights and predictions.
Blockchain in Healthcare
Blockchain technology, a type of distributed ledger technology, stores data across multiple systems in a network, making it highly resistant to technical failures and malicious attacks. It’s composed of a chain of “blocks,” each containing a list of transactions. Once a block is filled with transactions, it’s linked to the previously filled block, forming a chain of blocks. This chain of blocks is visible to all participants in the network, ensuring transparency and trust among all parties.
One of the key features of blockchain is its security. Each block contains a unique code called a cryptographic hash, which is generated based on the transactions it contains. Even a small change in a transaction would result in a completely different hash, making it nearly impossible to tamper with the data once it’s been added to the blockchain.
Blockchain technology is decentralized, meaning that no single entity has control over the entire network. This decentralization makes the system more secure and less susceptible to manipulation or attack. It also ensures that all transactions are transparent and verifiable, fostering trust among participants.
Blockchain and Electronic Health Records
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. They contain the medical and treatment history of the patients. While EHRs have revolutionized healthcare, they also present challenges such as data breaches, unauthorized access, and difficulties in data management and interoperability.
Blockchain technology can address these challenges and transform the way EHRs are managed. It can enhance security and privacy, improve interoperability, empower patients, streamline processes, and facilitate research and collaboration.
Blockchain and AI: A Symbiotic Relationship
The integration of blockchain and AI not only holds the potential to revolutionize healthcare but also to transform various sectors of the economy. The symbiotic relationship between these two technologies can be understood in the following ways:
AI systems require vast amounts of data to learn and make accurate predictions. However, this data is often sensitive, especially in the healthcare sector, and needs to be protected from breaches and unauthorized access. Blockchain, with its decentralized and immutable nature, provides a secure platform for storing and sharing this data.
AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on. The use of blockchain can ensure the authenticity and integrity of this data. Since each transaction on the blockchain is time-stamped and linked to the previous one, it’s easy to track and verify the origin of the data, ensuring that the AI system is trained on accurate and reliable data.
In a traditional centralized AI system, the decision-making process is controlled by a single entity, which can lead to biases and errors. On the other hand, a decentralized AI system, powered by blockchain, can distribute the decision-making process across multiple nodes, reducing the risk of errors and biases.
Blockchain’s smart contracts can automate the execution of agreements when certain conditions are met. This can be particularly useful for AI in managing agreements between different parties, such as data sharing agreements. The use of smart contracts can automate these processes, reducing the need for intermediaries and increasing efficiency.
AI in Healthcare
AI has the potential to comprehend health trends and patterns, think and learn like a clinician, and gather information from various sources. Despite the powerful capabilities that AI can provide, some doctors remain cautious about using AI in healthcare, particularly in roles that may influence a patient’s wellbeing.
The Road Ahead
The integration of blockchain and AI in healthcare is still in its early stages. However, the potential benefits are enormous. The study concludes that these technologies can make a significant difference in healthcare by promoting the implementation of a generalizable analytical technology that can be integrated into a more comprehensive risk management approach.
As we move forward, the challenge lies in effectively integrating these technologies into existing healthcare systems and ensuring that they are used ethically and responsibly. The future of healthcare may very well lie in the successful marriage of blockchain and AI, leading to a revolution in the way we understand and manage health and disease.
Kumar, P., Sharma, S., & Goel, S. (2021). Blockchain and artificial intelligence technology for e-Health. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 24, 100618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2021.100618