Biblio

Blockchain technology (BCT) has paved a way for new potentials of handling serious data privacy, integrity and security issues in healthcare. To curb the increasing challenges in healthcare industry, healthcare organizations need to apply blockchain technology to better improve patient safety and protect patients records from counterfeiting and fraud. The purpose of this research paper was to define BCT can assist in improving pharmaceutical industries in Saudi Arabia upon utilization of its application. This study adopted quantitative methods to gather the study data. Based on healthcare leaders perception and Internet connection, lack of cooperation, and economic inequality were found to be leading factors hindering the application of blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical industries, Saudi Arabia. Factors facilitating the application of blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical industries, Saudi Arabia were found as system robustness of BCT, increased data safety and decentralization, need for enhanced supply chain management and interoperability, and government laws and policies. Adopting interventions that are targeted to specific patient population medications, effective delivery systems, transit provider reimbursement far from intensity and volume of services towards value and quality was found to compromise the pre-existent challenges and real capacity in healthcare system. Although the relationship between implementation of blockchain technology and cost spending is negative in the short-term, in the long run, the relationship is positive Blockchain helps in managing multiple levels in a more secure way, reduces paper work and amplifies verification inefficiency.

Health Information Technology Systems (HITS) are increasingly used to improve the quality of patient care while reducing costs. These systems have been developed in response to the changing models of care to an ongoing relationship between patient and care team, supported by the use of technology due to the increased instance of chronic disease. However, the use of HITS may increase the risk to patient safety and security. While standards can be used to address and manage these risks, significant communication problems exist between experts working in different departments. These departments operate in silos often leading to communication breakdowns. For example, risk management stakeholders who are not clinicians may struggle to understand, define and manage risks associated with these systems when talking to medical professionals as they do not understand medical terminology or the associated care processes. In order to overcome this communication problem, we propose the use of the “Three Amigos” approach together with the use of the SIMPLE tool that has been developed to assist patients in understanding medical terms. This paper examines how the “Three Amigos” approach and the SIMPLE tool can be used to improve estimation of severity of risk by non-clinical risk management stakeholders and provides a practical example of their use in a ten step risk management process.