Applying Blockchain Technology for Health Information Exchange and Persistent Monitoring for Clinical Trials

AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2018 Dec 5:2018:1167-1175. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

"Blockchain" is a distributed ledger technology originally applied in the financial sector. This technology ensures the integrity of transactions without third-party validation. Its functions of decentralized transaction validation, data provenance, data sharing, and data integration are a good fit for the needs of health information exchange and clinical trials. We investigated the current workflow of Health Information Exchange and clinical trials; conducted design thinking processes with clinicians, trial managers, informaticians, and blockchain professionals; and implemented a private blockchain model to tackle known issues. We used coded Smart Contract regulations to simulate several scenarios in healthcare processes. This proof-of-concept work provides a feasible simulation for potential solutions to monitor clinical trials across different census regions persistently. Various levels of data access privileges have been designed to utilize a suite of customized Smart Contract settings. These settings emulate the workflow protocols for the monitoring entities, trial sponsors, clinical sponsors and participating subjects. Keywords: Blockchain, Smart Contract, Health Information Exchange, Clinical Trial, Persistent Monitoring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blockchain*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic*
  • Health Information Exchange*
  • Humans
  • Information Dissemination