A blockchain-based computerized network infrastructure for the transparent, immutable calculation and dissemination of quantitative, measurable parameters of academic and medical research publications

Abstract

Digital transformation of healthcare systems should rely on decentralized computer networks and take advantage of the unique characteristics of blockchain technology. Decentralization ensures process transparency and data transparency for all relevant stakeholders. These values are essential in the realms of populations' healthcare information communications and processing, control and tracking of medical logistics supply chains, clinical research management, and control of certified healthcare services organizations. Mounting decentralized processes onto a blockchain-based computerized network will endow the values of immutability, improved cybersecurity, and potential for incentivizing stakeholders for relevant, pre-determined activities. One of the most relevant processes that would benefit from a decentralized, blockchain-based architecture is the submission, review, and publishing of scientific manuscripts. Current structures and processes in this world are non-transparent, poorly incentivizing significant stakeholders such as manuscripts' reviewers, and many are potentially corrupted. In this review, we suggest a blockchain-based architecture for such systems and advocate further research and development in several domains of modern healthcare systems-offering medicine to become "the new guy on the block (chain)."

Keywords: Blockchain; H-index; decentralized network; digital transformation; healthcare systems; impact factor.

Figure 1.

Decentralized computer networks as the evolution of previous architectures.

Figure 2.

Blockchain technology as a leading execution mechanism of the decentralized methodology.

Figure 3.

Suggested architecture for a manuscript processing and publishing system (legacy system), and mounted on blockchain technology infrastructure (blockchain-based).