A Pragmatic Solution to a Major Interoperability Problem: Using Blockchain for the Nationwide Patient Index

Authors

  • Michael L Gagnon Senior Executive and Executive Director of HealtHIENevada, Qualis HealthInsight
  • Grant Stephen CEO, bPrescient

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30953/bhty.v1.28

Keywords:

Blockchain, Master Patient Index, MPI, Distributed Ledger, Patient Identity, HIE, Health Information Exchange

Abstract

Associating the health-related records and transactions of patients with their numerous “identities” as they interact with different healthcare providers, payers, pharmacy benefit managers and other entities is an expensive and complex problem. With many years of experience addressing this issue in different healthcare systems and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), it is apparent that there is now a compelling and relatively straightforward technical solution for this problem. Presented here is a broadly feasible and technically compelling argument for a blockchain-based approach to addressing these issues. At the same time, challenges ahead and potential strategies to address them are discussed.

Keywords: Blockchain; Master Patient Index; MPI; Distributed Ledger; Patient Identity; HIE; Health
Information Exchange

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Author Biographies

Michael L Gagnon, Senior Executive and Executive Director of HealtHIENevada, Qualis HealthInsight

Michael L. Gagnon, CPHIMS is the Executive Director of HealtHIE Nevada the state-wide health information exchange in Nevada and the former Chief Technology Officer of Vermont Information Technology Leaders, the state HIE in Vermont. Michael also serves as the Chair of the Western Member Council of the Strategic HIE Collaborative’s Patient Centered Data Home initiative. Michael has been involved with health information technology for over 27 years and focused on health information exchange for the last 15 years. You can contact Michael at mgagnon@healthinsight.org.

Grant Stephen, CEO, bPrescient

Grant Stephen is a leading strategic advisor to healthcare and life science organizations seeking to utilize their data to solve key business problems. He is the CEO of bPrescient, a management and implementation consultancy specializing in the data challenges of providers, payers and life sciences firms. You can contact him at gstephen@bprescient.com.

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Published

2018-08-16

How to Cite

Gagnon, M. L., & Stephen, G. (2018). A Pragmatic Solution to a Major Interoperability Problem: Using Blockchain for the Nationwide Patient Index. Blockchain in Healthcare Today, 1. https://doi.org/10.30953/bhty.v1.28

Issue

Volume 1, 2018

Section

Use Cases

License

Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Blockchain in Healthcare Today (BHTY). Read the full Copyright Statement.