A Multi Criteria Evaluation of Blockchain Technologies Applied to the Healthcare System

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Motivation

1.2 Problem Definition

1.3 Aims and Objectives

1.4 Research Questions

1.4.1 Sub-Questions

1.4.2 Objectives

1.5 Subject Relevance

1.5.1 The importance of emerging technologies

1.5.2 Relevance in Healthcare System

1.6 Thesis Structure

1.7 Conclusion

2. Blockchain

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Background

2.3 Technology

2.3.1 Blockchain Evolution

2.3.2 The Anatomy of a Block

2.3.3 Blockchain Types

2.3.4 Consensus Algorithms

2.4 Conclusion

3. Literature Review

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Methodology

3.3 Problem Statement

3.4 Conclusion

3.5 Proposed Solutions

3.6 Conclusion

3.7 Contribution to the existing knowledge

4. Design & Implementation

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Theoretical Framework

4.2.1 Research Layers

4.3 Research Design

4.3.1 Quality of the Research

4.3.2 Conducting Interviews

5. Research results

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Step One: “Finding the healthcare system’s problems”

5.3 Step Two: “Blockchain effects on healthcare problems”

5.3.1 List of 15 white papers

5.4 Step Three: “Root causes of blockchain effects”

5.5 Step Four: “Evaluation of root causes”

5.6 Step Five: ”Results”

5.7 Answering the Research Questions

6. Discussion and Conclusion

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Blockchain Solution

6.2.1 Solution Architecture

6.2.2 Solution’s Stakeholders & Hurdles

6.3 Discussion

6.3.1 Future Steps to adopt a Blockchain Solution

6.3.2 Limitations

6.3.3 Future Work

6.4 Summary

6.5 Conclusion

Research Objectives and Core Themes

This research aims to perform a multicriteria evaluation of various blockchain technologies to determine which network types and consensus algorithms are most suitable for integration into the healthcare system, specifically addressing issues like interoperability, data ownership, and patient-centered information management.

• Analysis of current challenges in the healthcare system related to IT infrastructure and data silos.
• Evaluation of different blockchain architectures (Public, Private, Permissioned, Permissionless) in a medical context.
• Technical assessment of consensus mechanisms (PoW, PoS, D-PoS, PoA) regarding performance and sustainability in healthcare.
• Development of a framework for blockchain-based medical data management through expert interviews.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Provides the motivation for integrating blockchain into medicine and defines the core problems of health record management, such as information blocking and lack of patient control.

Blockchain: Details the technical foundations of blockchain technology, explaining block anatomy, different network types, and various consensus algorithms like PoW, PoS, D-PoS, and PoA.

Literature Review: Systematically analyzes existing studies and white papers on blockchain applications in healthcare to identify current research gaps and common proposed solutions.

Design & Implementation: Describes the methodological approach of the research, including the use of an exploratory case study design and qualitative data gathered through expert interviews.

Research results: Presents the findings from the literature review and interviews, clustering blockchain benefits and evaluating consensus algorithms to identify the most effective solution for healthcare.

Discussion and Conclusion: Elaborates on the practical implementation of a private, permissioned blockchain solution, discusses stakeholder involvement, identifies implementation hurdles, and provides final conclusions.

Keywords

Blockchain, Healthcare, Electronic Health Records, Interoperability, Data Ownership, Data Security, Consensus Algorithms, Proof of Authority, Delegated Proof of Stake, Patient-Centred Care, Smart Contracts, Distributed Ledger Technology, Medical Data Management, Scalability, Information Blocking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The research investigates how blockchain technology can be applied to the healthcare sector to improve data interoperability, security, and patient empowerment while addressing inefficiencies in current health IT systems.

What are the primary themes discussed?

Key themes include the technical evaluation of blockchain network types, the analysis of consensus algorithms for medical data, and the role of smart contracts in managing patient-provider relationships.

What is the primary objective of this thesis?

The main goal is to identify which specific blockchain technology and consensus mechanism best meet the criteria for a reliable, scalable, and patient-centered healthcare system.

Which research methodology does the author employ?

The author uses a multi-method exploratory research design, combining literature review with qualitative data collection through semi-structured interviews with blockchain and healthcare experts.

What does the main body of the work cover?

The main body covers a comprehensive overview of blockchain theory, a systematic review of existing white papers and prototypes, and a multi-criteria analysis of different blockchain architectures and their practical implementation in the healthcare field.

What are the key terms defining this work?

Key terms include Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Proof of Authority (PoA), Delegated Proof of Stake (D-PoS), Interoperability, and Electronic Health Records (EHR).

Why is a private, permissioned blockchain recommended over public alternatives?

According to the expert interviews, private, permissioned networks offer better control, scalability, and integration readiness, which are essential for enterprise-level medical applications compared to public, permissionless networks.

How do smart contracts assist in healthcare?

Smart contracts automate the execution of agreements between patients and providers, acting as data pointers and permission managers, which reduces administrative costs and enhances the transparency of data sharing.

What are the major hurdles to blockchain adoption mentioned?

Major hurdles include significant financial investment for infrastructure, the time required for institutional adaptation, the need for cross-industry consortium creation, and social resistance within medical environments.