By Mackenzie Garrity, Becker’s Hospital Review | July 2, 2019
While healthcare organizations vary with blockchain implementation, the decentralized ledger technology has made waves in 2019.
Below is a roundup of the blockchain developments in healthcare this year.
1. Solve.Care, a global healthcare blockchain platform, has partnered with Cyber Physical Chain, a company that builds new infrastructure for “internet of things.”
2. A new blockchain platform is being designed to help improve the reimbursement processing, linking payments to patient outcomes.
3. The National Cancer Institute approved a program June 21 to create a blockchain-based system that allows users to share clinical data.
4. Microsoft was the latest technology company to join the Hyperledger community for open source blockchain projects, the company announced in a blog post June 18.
5. IBM launched an upgraded version of its enterprise blockchain platform on June 18.
6. On June 13, IBM, KPMG, Merck and Walmart announced that they were selected by the FDA to evaluate the use of blockchain for identifying, tracking and tracing prescription drugs.
7. Microsoft plans to integrate new blockchain and artificial intelligence features to its Power Platform, the company announced June 10.
8. Blockchain developer Solve.Care plans to release a network for diabetic patients in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and the Arizona Care Network.
9. Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin in partnership with the Austin Blockchain Collective will explore blockchain’s potential in healthcare.
10. Walmart was the latest company to join the MediLedger consortium, a collaborative working to build a blockchain that will be designed to track and verify prescription drugs.
11. Salesforce released its first blockchain solution May 29 that is built on the Hyperledger Sawtooth platform.
12. IBM has partnered with Samsung SDS to strengthen an existing blockchain-based hyperledger while also improving other blockchain ecosystems.
13. Solve.Care, a blockchain-focused startup, is in the final stage of developing its Book-a-Ride card, a tool that will allow customers to schedule transportation to health-related appointments.
14. Syniverse and IBM teamed up to develop an open-source blockchain network that aims to validate wholesale billing and charging processes.
15. To reduce costs, errors and inefficiencies, Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies have joined a blockchain project led by technology company Chronicled.
16. Companies looking to develop and grow blockchain networks can now do so using Amazon Managed Blockchain, which Amazon Web Services launched on the East Coast on April 30.
17. Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health and Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals are collaborating with blockchain and pharmacy companies to better track prescriptions.
18. Healthcare technology solutions provider Nasco teamed up with Express Scripts and three other providers to form a blockchain coalition, known as Coalesce Health Alliance.
19. Health data companies Bitfury and Longenesis developed a blockchain-based consent management solution that is designed to streamline data collection for medical research.
20. Startup Healthereum has created a blockchain-based mobile app that rewards patients with digital tokens for showing up to their appointments.
21. Pharmaceutical companies such as Genentech and AmerisourceBergen Corp. are testing different blockchains to determine whether the technology can track counterfeit drugs.
22. Startup CoverUS has developed a blockchain-supported platform that allows patients to sell their medical information to providers.
23. Researchers from UC San Francisco proposed using a blockchain-powered system to share medical data.
24. Cigna and Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare joined a collaborative blockchain project designed to improve transparency and interoperability in the healthcare space.
25. Kalibrate Blockchain rolled out a new program for hospitals in various markets that allows them to license its mobile app
26. HSBlox launched its CuraBlox solution, which leverages blockchain technology to improve bundled-payments.
27. Aetna, Anthem, Health Care Service Corp., PNC Bank and IBM unveiled a new collaborative blockchain project Jan. 24 designed to improve transparency and interoperability in healthcare.