Incentives for Blockhain-based PHR Ecosystem

Abstract

During the last years, Blockhain technology has caught growing attention within the Healthcare sector that is plagued by increasing costs, siloed processes and low level of information exchange between parties. Blockchain could address some of these pain points while placing patient at the center of the health ecosystem. This thesis investigates Blockchain-based PHR ecosystems and incentives to join such network.

Personal Health Record (PHR) is a collection of health-related information that is controlled by the individual and it enables individuals more participative role regarding own health. PHR ecosystem consists of stakeholders that are active in formation of PHR such as individual, healthcare payer and provider, medical technology company and so on. Current PHR initiatives work within closed environments where parties trust each other. Blockchain as an underlaying technology of PHR could enable expansion of ecosystem through its trust enhancing protocol. The study examines the reasons would potential stakeholders see beneficial to join such blockchain-based ecosystem.

Case Study methodology is adhered in this study and semi-constructed interviews are the main data collection method. Interviewees are chosen by their activity in Healthcare and Blockchain scene and most of them represent stakeholders in examined ecosystem.