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Editorial
. 2024 Jun 27;16(6):e63318.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.63318. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Blockchain-Based Healthcare Credentialing: A Solution to High Costs and Administrative Burdens

Ebenezer Chinedu-Eneh  1 , Priya Ramaswamy  2 , Patrick E Farmer  3
Affiliations
Editorial

Blockchain-Based Healthcare Credentialing: A Solution to High Costs and Administrative Burdens

Ebenezer Chinedu-Eneh et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

This article proposes a blockchain-based system to address the inefficiencies of the current healthcare credentialing process that contribute to workforce shortages. Leveraging blockchain's unique features, the proposed system aims to reduce time, cost, and labor, offering significant time savings, increased trustworthiness, and enhanced staffing resilience. Real-world blockchain examples demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. The study concludes that a blockchain-based credentialing system could streamline healthcare credentialing, enhance preparedness for future challenges, and improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Keywords: blockchain in medicine; credentialing; delivery of healthcare; labor costs; medical staffing; patient outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Schematic diagram detailing the interactive data verification process in health professional employment.
It represents new employees and employers as nodes, interconnected by two-way arrows to various data sources, such as licensure agencies, referees, liability coverage providers, and educational institutions. These arrows signify the dynamic exchange of data — tracking, sending, and receiving — required from the employee and the employer to each source. This intricate network underscores the complexity and potential inefficiency of the current verification process. Courtesy: Authors.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Revolutionizing data verification workflow in healthcare: a blockchain approach.
The figure showcases a data verification workflow for healthcare professionals, utilizing blockchain technology as a secure, trusted repository of critical employment data. Two-way arrows demonstrate the secure and verified flow of information, such as licenses, references, work history, and transcripts, from the respective sources onto the blockchain, highlighting the system's user-friendliness for these stakeholders. The authorization arrow from the employee icon represents the employee's ability to manage their data on this blockchain repository, including adding and removing items as necessary. The cyclic arrows around the blockchain script icon signify the automation of the blockchain, running smart contracts to ensure data validity and integrity. Furthermore, two-way arrows from the blockchain to both the employer and employee icons illustrate the system's bilateral accessibility, simplifying the process and fostering transparency. Courtesy: Authors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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