Focus on Blockchain

Blockchain: Is it ready for you? Are you ready for it?

Blockchain is real. Blockchain is more mired in buzz than ever. The distributed ledger technology has been touted for potential use cases relating to everything from claims adjudication, clinical trials, interoperability, EHRs and longitudinal health records to security and supply chain.
 
For December we’ll dive deep to separate what’s really happening today from the marketing speak all over the healthcare industry by interviewing experts, talking to innovators and looking at what’s coming next.

What you need to know

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Blockchain: What's the hype, what's the promise?

by Laura Lovett

Industry players see blockchain as a tool for administrative tasks but remain skeptical about cryptocurrency in healthcare. 

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HIMSS19 to offer a look at how HHS is approaching blockchain

by Mike Miliard
Federal officials are working on policy about the emerging technology deliberately, helping to set e
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Blockchain: What to know before investing in the tech

by Dave Muoio

Optum's blockchain guru describes how the company singles out and pursues the most promising pitches.

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5 blockchain developments in 2018

by Tom Sullivan

Amazon, Change Healthcare and Walmart all made moves worth watching as we head into 2019.

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10 digital health companies using cryptocurrency as incentives

by Laura Lovett

Companies are using blockchain-backed currencies to motivate users to share data, workout and stay sober. 

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Blockchain pilots launched in 2018 tackled EHR management, collective data custodianship, credentialing and more

by Dave Muoio

From multi-organization collaborations to single-hospital pilots, this year has seen its fair share of experimental blockchain initiatives. 

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Change Healthcare acquires blockchain API startup PokitDok's IP, staff

by Dave Muoio
Change Healthcare said that it is looking to infuse PokitDok's tech into its own blockchain network. 
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For healthcare data security, blockchain can be a valuable piece of the puzzle

by Jonah Comstock
Blockchain can protect data integrity and streamline patient consent, but it should be used in conjunction with other technologies and procedures.
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Healthcare startups: Is blockchain right for you?

by Jonah Comstock

Startup founders warn their peers to think carefully about deploying distributed ledger technologies.

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How ProCredEx is leveraging blockchain to speed up credentialing

by Jonah Comstock

The right combination of technology can reduce a 4 to 6 month process to 18 to 21 days, CEO Anthony Begando says.

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Blockchain use case: Electronic health records

by Mike Miliard
Could distributed ledger technology offer the promise of real-time EHR updates, seamless interoperab
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European forum offers tips for blockchain GDPR compliance

by Diana Manos
European Union Blockchain Observatory & Forum says that, while there are tensions and some uncertainty about how to protect data and use blockchain under GDPR, there are still ways to accomplish it.
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Blockchain use case: Healthcare supply chain

by Mike Miliard
Tamper-proof distributed ledger tech helps with efficiency, security, integrity and visibility of pharmacy and other supply chain data. And because it doesn't necessarily involve PHI, it may be a logical place for hospitals to start exploring.
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What's really fueling the blockchain craze? Dissatisfaction with the status quo

by Tom Sullivan
While interoperability and cybersecurity challenges persist and EHRs underwhelm, distributed ledger technology is so hyped because of the hopes for what it might mean in the future.
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As blockchain proves its worth for healthcare, regulatory questions remain

by Mike Miliard
Attorneys offer their perspective on the privacy and compliance issues faced by the technology and how it squares, or not, with laws such as HIPAA and GDPR.
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ACO Arizona Care Network piloting blockchain wallet for docs

by Bill Siwicki
Recently the first digital currency – redeemable for U.S. dollars – was deposited in physicians’ wal
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Massachusetts General Hospital piloting blockchain projects with Korean startup

by Mike Miliard
In working with MediBloc, MGH is said to be interested in the ledger technology's suitability for st
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Blockchain primer for CFOs: What it is and how it can deliver value to your business

by Jeff Lagasse
Blockchain technology is becoming more widespread, and early adopters will be in the best position t
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How and why startups are using blockchain to tackle healthcare hurdles

by Dave Muoio
From cryptocoin behavior incentives to personal health data sharing, there's no shortage of young companies looking to the distributed ledger technology.
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Build a business case for blockchain

by HIMSS TV
To get data out of the administrative bucket and into the blockchain ledger technology, focus on the expense of compliance and regulations to build audit reports.
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Blockchain: 3 charts highlight today's infrastructure, interest and initial use cases

by Tom Sullivan
HIMSS Analytics found health facilities more prepared for the distributed ledger tech than many might think, but that doesn’t mean they’re making forward progress just yet.
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Big things ahead for blockchain in healthcare, new report shows

by Benjamin Harris
Advice for hospitals: Making inroads on blockchain now, with smaller projects that don't involve patient data, can help prepare them for larger opportunities ahead.
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Blockchain technology to expand in Hawaii following Timicoin, First Vitals Health and Wellness partnership

by Laura Lovett
Timicoin and First Vitals Health and Wellness plan will use blockchain to aggregate data from EHRs in Hawaii. 
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Mayo Clinic exploring blockchain EHR use cases with UK startup

by Mike Miliard
Medicalchain, a London-based startup that develops blockchain technology for storing electronic heal
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Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, others launch blockchain pilot

by Susan Morse
Five healthcare organizations including insurers UnitedHealthcare and Humana, Optum, Quest Diagnosti
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Walmart submitted patent for blockchain, wearable, biometric scanner-based EHR system

by Dave Muoio
Walmart’s ongoing investigation of blockchain technologies seems to have intersected with its growin
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Hospital tech officer breaks down blockchain for the layperson

by Laura Lovett
While the term blockchain has populated numerous news feeds and executive board room conversations r
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Embleema surfaces from stealth, uses blockchain to link patient data to researchers

by Laura Lovett
Blockchain is in vogue this year in the healthcare space as innovators find new uses for the technol
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Health Wizz pilots blockchain and FHIR mobile app for EHRs

by Bill Siwicki
Health Wizz has updated and is piloting its unusual blockchain- and FHIR-enabled EHR aggregator mobi
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Genomics for cryptocurrency startup Nebula Genomics lands $4.3M

by Laura Lovett
The Harvard University spinout also announced a partnership with Veritas Genomics.

THOUGHT LEADERS ON HIMSS TV

News

What will be the first use cases for blockchain?

by HIMSS TV

Emily Vaughn, product development director of Change Healthcare, and Tim Dunlevy, VP of engineering at PokitDok, discuss first use cases and applications for blockchain as well as the process of going from private to public blockchain networks.

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Solution to fragmented data is key to effective blockchain

by HIMSS TV

Abel Kho, director of the Center for Health Information Partnerships at Northwestern University and co-founder of Health Data Link, says that addressing the fragmentation of data in healthcare is needed to make the most of blockchain technology.

News

What will be the first use cases for blockchain?

by HIMSS TV

Emily Vaughn, product development director of Change Healthcare, and Tim Dunlevy, VP of engineering at PokitDok, discuss first use cases and applications for blockchain as well as the process of going from private to public blockchain networks.

News

Solution to fragmented data is key to effective blockchain

by HIMSS TV

Abel Kho, director of the Center for Health Information Partnerships at Northwestern University and co-founder of Health Data Link, says that addressing the fragmentation of data in healthcare is needed to make the most of blockchain technology.

News

Genomics startup bets on blockchain for data sharing platform

by HIMSS TV
Kamal Obbad, Co-founder and CEO of Nebula Genomics, is working to help consumers understand consent and the risks to consider before giving someone access to their data based on a blockchain model.  Nebula Genomics was the winner of the 2018 Health 2.0 Launch! contest.
News

Build a business case for blockchain

by HIMSS TV
To get data out of the administrative bucket and into the blockchain ledger technology, focus on the expense of compliance and regulations to build audit reports.
News

Decentralizing healthcare with blockchain

by HIMSS TV
Co-founder of Health Data Link, Abel Kho, co-founder of Health Data Link talks about the ecology of care and how data is transferred throughout the healthcare market.