The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has selected 15 winners of its “Use of Blockchain in Health IT and Health-related Research” Ideation Challenge.
The ONC is the federal entity charged with coordinating nationwide efforts to implement advanced IT to securely store, analyze and exchange health-related data. The ONC solicited white papers on potential uses of Blockchain technology — the data structure behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which can be time-stamped and signed using a private key to prevent tampering — to address privacy and scalability of electronic health records.
More than 70 participants submitted a white paper no longer than 10 pages describing ways to improve and track the encryption, storage and distribution of digital health resources.
“We are thrilled by the incredible amount of interest in this challenge,” said Vindell Washington, national coordinator for health IT, in an ONC news release. “While many know about Blockchain technology’s uses for digital currency purposes, the challenge submissions show its exciting potential for new, innovative uses in health care.”
The winning papers presented methods of authentication and accountability to improve claims, costs, algorithms and interoperability, among other facets impacting health IT.
Criteria listed for winning papers included: the papers’ proposed solutions or recommendations for market viability; creativity; ability to inform and foster transformative change; and potential to support a number of national health and health information objectives, including advancing the flow of health information where and when it is needed most.
Selected winners will present their submissions at a workshop in Gaithersburg, Maryland, co-hosted by ONC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology during National Health IT Week (beginning Sept. 26). Additional submissions will be posted on
HealthIT.gov
at that time, where the winning papers can currently be viewed in their entirety.
