Medibloc - creating a healthcare platform centered around the patient

okipeter (52)in #crypto • 6 years ago (edited)

Introduction:
I always feel that I should be in control of people that have access to the medical information I provide to medical institutions. Well, if you have ever felt that way, then come with me, let me tell you about MediBloc.

MediBloc:
MediBloc is a healthcare platform that puts the management of medical data, information and records back into the hands of patients. MediBloc is decentralized and secure, since it is built on the blockhchain. MediBloc is not here to abolish Electronic Healthcare Record, rather it is here to improve it by making it a Personal Healthcare Record, where patients get to have full control over their medical data. Infact, Forbes named Medibloc as one of 10 Korean Startups powering into the year 2018.

Let’s look at some advantages which MediBloc has over our traditional medical records system:

Security at an impeccable maximum level:
HIPPA privacy rules states that “all medical information must be kept confidential”. However, can we conveniently say that medical information held by medical institutions are kept confidential? A lot of persons are involved in these medical institutions, and this causes whole lot of unaccounted access to the medical information of patients. And when there is a whole lot of persons having unaccounted access to the private information of patients, there is a high tendency for one or more of those persons to begin leaking the information of patients. Also, since these medical institutions uses centralized medical records, they are susceptible to hacks and attacks. The Image below shows the number of records exposed in the past few years.

However, with MediBloc, the possibility of leakage of medical information is reduced to a minimal level. This is achieved by putting the responsibility of medical information unto the hands of the patients. With this, the number of people having access to the medical information is accounted for. Also, with the level of security which blockchain carries, the probability of hacks and attacks is greatly reduced.

Reliability at an astounding level:
MediBloc is using the blockchain to store medical information of patients in a decentralized manner. MediBloc is planning to prevent data loss by constantly and continuously generating backup data, verifying these backup data, and then when modulations crop up, the original data can then be regenerated/recovered via the backup data. This means that with MediBloc, medical information are indelible, thus making it impossible for these medical information to be easily deleted or modified. Through this, MediBloc has vastly taken the reliability of medical information to an astounding level.

Also, with MediBloc, before any medical practitioner has access to a patient’s medical information, the medical practitioner must first be verified. MediBloc is further increasing reliability by keeping records of the specific writer and confirming it via the blockchain.

Transparency, as clear as possible:
Presently, transparency in the way medical information of a patient is used is somewhat a mirage. However, with MediBloc this changes, as MediBloc keeps an indelible record of anyone that reads/writes/access medical information, also the purpose for reading/writing/accessing these medical information are also recorded. These records are kept on the blockchain, and they are provided transparently.

Interoperability, at a crazy high level:
Presently, medical information stored in a medical institution cannot be transferred to other medical institutions. This is due to the different formats which these medical institutions use in storing medical information.

However, with MediBloc, medical information such as medical images or genetic information that already has a standardized format can be easily interoperable and transferred via MediBloc. For medical information such as laboratory results, test results etc., that do not yet have a standardized format, MediBloc is enhancing interoperability by support numerous formats, instead of making a single standardized recording format. MediBloc is achieving this feat by providing an API/SDK that supports numerous formats, these formats include the HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), and also include any code supported format developed by anyone. Through this, MediBloc has achieved an astounding and enviable level of flexibility, scalability, and interoperability.

Accessibility, at another level:
Presently, it is not possible to access medical information of patients outside the medical institution holding the medical information. This is a great limitation. However, with MediBloc, access to medical information can be done anywhere around the globe. All you need is access to Internet.

MediBloc Accounts at an astounding high flexibility:
Three types of account can be created on the MediBloc platform, viz-a-viz: General Users, Healthcare providers, and Data researchers. Healthcare providers and Data researchers are constrained to provide proof of their certification.

From the image above, we can see that only the patient has access to his/her medical information. We can also see that the access levels has been constructed in such a way to allow family members and/or next of kins to make important decisions on behalf of patient. This comes to play when there is an emergency, and medical professionals need access to medical data of the patient.

Structure of the MediBloc Platform:

Blockchain:
At first, with time, cost, versatility, and reliability as factors, the MediBloc team wanted to develop the MediBloc Platform as a DApp that was to be launched on the QTUM blockchain. However, after much consideration, the MediBloc team decided that it was ideal to build their own blockchain. This was done to improve the versatility of services. Check out this post

SDK:
MediBloc offers open source SDK which allows applications that can be linked to the MediBloc platform to be created in an easy and fast manner. This is the tip of the iceberg, as MediBloc is not restricting users to the use of a particular SDK, all the user need is to follow communication protocols, to carter for future platform. A fantastic news is that MediBloc has released SDK v 0.1

Applications:
Medical information are used and/or managed via various applications created. Some applications include Health report, data exchange, automatic insurance claim, MediBloc chatbox, etc.

If you have been following the gist so far, you would agree with me that MediBloc would have a whole lot of impact on all parties involved. Let’s review some of those impacts.

For the Patients:
By having full control over their medical records with MediBloc, patients can use the health report application to get their full health report. Doctors can then get the required and important information from this report and then optimal care and treatment can be given to the patient.

For Insurance Companies:
With the medical information gotten via MediBloc, insurance claim can be automated via smart contracts. This means that patients don’t need to start visiting medical insurance companies to know if certain diseases, treatments, or checkups are covered. Also, with the medical data gotten from MediBloc, treatment can be automatically billed to the patient’s insurance plan via smart Contracts.

All this done with the automatic insurance claim application on MediBloc.

For Medical Researchers:
MediBloc gives an avenue for the peer-to-peer exchange of medical information for currencies. This is made possible via the data exchange application on MediBloc. Medical researchers that are looking for peculiar medical data can use the real time search system and also post a data request with data requirements and incentives for providing the said peculiar data on the MediBloc platform.

However, users have the authority to either restrict or allow their medical information to be searched. The search component is only available to users that allow their medical information to be searched. For users that prevent their medical information from been search, but are willing to sell or donate their medical data, an option is available.

The MediBloc Tokens:
The MediBloc platform has 2 tokens. The MED and the MEDX. Recall that I made mention that MediBloc was initially set to be launched as a DApp on QTUM (MED), however the MediBloc team decided to build their own blockchain (MEDX). But not to worry, holders of MED were airdropped MEDX.

To ensure fairness, at the release of mainnet, holders would get 0.5 MainNet coins per MED and 0.5 MainNet coins per MEDX. Check out this post

Check out the tokenomics below:

Use-Cases:
Use-Case 1:
Dr. Toto is a top data researcher, he needs a peculiar medical information to further his research. With MediBloc, he can use the search system, find the medical information and then purchase it from the owner of the medical information in a peer-to-peer manner. Thus Dr. Toto can further his research.

Use-Case 2:
Mr. Okoh has undergone a medical test before in a medical institution, however when he goes to another medical institution, he has to undergo that same medical test. This brings about time and financial wastage. However, with MediBloc, he can combine all the previously acquired medical information, and when he goes to a new medical institution, he can submit them, and thus save time and cost.

Conclusion:
We have seen the various advantages which MediBloc has over our traditional medical records system, we have also seen the various impacts MediBloc has. Hence, it is fair and convenient to say that MediBloc is the best platform to manage any medical data and/or information. Hence, all interested parties should strive to be associated with MediBloc.

MediBloc Listings:
MediBloc has a lot of listings, which includes:

MediBloc Partnership:
The MediBloc team has established a lot of partnerships. Infact, many companies, medical institutions are all jumping to queue so as to integrate their respective business with the MediBloc platform. And, the fact is, the number of hospitals and clinics associating with MediBloc is increasing. The medical institutions that have partnered with MediBloc includes:

MediBloc also achieved the feat of partnering with a company from another sector. The company is:

Deloitte, an accounting firm that is internationally recognized

Check out the images below showing the partners of MediBloc

With MediBloc having establish partnership with renowned major companies, it is certain that the MediBloc platform would have an overwhelming reach. This means that with these partnerships, the MediBloc platform be available to all and sundry.

Check out this illustration of MediBloc’s partnership with medical institutions.