Blockchain technology originated in 1991, and was conceived as a
secure way to timestamp digital documents akin to how a notary
timestamps physical documents. The true value lies in the fact that
once stamped, the document cannot be backdated. Since then, the
application of Blockchain technology has evolved and has the
potential to transform and improve healthcare.
This article examines three possible areas for blockchain
application in healthcare—the drug and device supply chain,
medical staff credentialing, and electronic health records
(EHRs).
What is a Blockchain?
Blockchain is an open distributed ledger, meaning that anyone
provided with the requisite credentials can access and add to the
ledger. When data is added to the blockchain, it is done
chronologically. Each block contains the relevant encrypted data,
which is referred to as a hash, and the hash of a previous block.
The kind of data contained within a block depends on the type of
blockchain being
