Non-fungible tokens became popular in 2020. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, which can be used as money or a digital asset, NFTs are designed to function as a proof of authenticity. They consent to owning a piece of a digital version of a tangible item. NFTs were used to exchange everything from digital art, music, and video clips. In the first half of 2021, NFT sales are expected to reach $3 billion.
While the benefits of NFTs in the entertainment business are obvious, the same framework may be applied to the healthcare industry. NFTs can reflect your health data, pharmaceutical medications, and human composition elements like blood.
The use of NFTs for blood donations is already encouraged by blood donation organizations. Blood donors are given a unique token that may be tracked throughout the system. The gift can then be tracked from the time it is delivered to the hospital, through the blood bank, and to its intended recipient. The NFT of blood can then be used to register it in a digital “blood bank,” where the demand for specific blood types may be tracked via a blockchain system and distributed to where it is most required.
The application case for NFTs in pharmaceutical manufacturing, on the other hand, might identify a specific batch of medications, making it easier to trace and authenticate. Those who track the process via the system will be able to identify any issues, allowing problems to be resolved much more rapidly. If a drug was recalled, it might be noted on the NFT and brought to the attention of anyone who could track it down. Prescription orders might likewise be linked to an NFT, allowing for easy identification of who issued them and the prevention of faked prescriptions.
The depiction of health data is one of the most potential applications of NFTs in healthcare. Patients are now aware that their data exists, but they typically do not have access to it or control over where it is used. Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., and HCA Healthcare Inc., a national hospital chain, recently announced a partnership to build healthcare algorithms based on patient records, marking the latest incursion by a digital giant into the $3 trillion healthcare industry. Patients’ data is spun off in real time, but the usage of NFTs would allow them to track how their data is being used. An NFT would not only identify the data as belonging to that individual as a kind of identification, but it would also ensure ownership, allowing the patient to access it and track where it travels, as well as providing residual revenue to the data owner. This can also be applied to other research projects involving patient-generated data.
Patients who are aware of their data and understand how it is managed, according to Karly Rowe, Vice President Patient Access, Identity, and Care Management Product at Experian Health, may assist ensure accuracy and, as a result, their own quality of care and security. They should also be aware of and trust the manner in which a healthcare organization manages its data. Despite these dangers, many healthcare institutions have yet to implement a complete patient identity management plan.
Identity management necessitates enterprise-level planning, strategy, and solutions because it is the backbone of healthcare’s digital transformation. Patients are at danger from inaccurate or inadequate patient information, which can be lethal, and patient identity management can have a variety of financial and reputational consequences for an organization. Experian Health, for example, developed the first Universal Patient Identifier (UPI) certified by The National Council of Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) in order to comply with new pharmacy billing and electronic prescribing regulations set to take effect in January 2022.
With so many benefits, it’s easy to say that NFTs aren’t only for artwork or slam dunks from your favorite NBA star. Earning money for the use of your data may come sooner rather than later, however it is clear that patients’ data control has been long overdue.