6 ways blockchain could change radiology as we know it
Blockchain has gained widespread publicity because of its use in cryptocurrency markets, but it’s beginning to disrupt the healthcare field and radiology could be next.
That’s according to a European Society of Radiology whitepaper published Tuesday in Insights into Imaging.
“Blockchain has the potential to empower both patients and radiologists, by allowing them to keep control of the use of their data and/or annotations of data,” authors of the whitepaper wrote. “The radiology community should engage and collaborate in the development and implementation of blockchain technologies in research and patient care.”
Below are six areas the distributed database known as blockchain could change forever.
1. Radiology reports for complex studies contain input from many specialists, data from multiple modalities and involve numerous body systems. Blockchain can track individual contributions and facilitate more direct consultations.
2. Blockchain can differentiate when AI-derived information is included in diagnostic reports, including tracking which tools and versions are being utilized.
3. Embedding this tech into electronic medical records could share data regarding who accessed what part of the EMR. This could go a long way toward enhancing follow-up care, the authors noted.
4. Healthcare data is growing exponentially and blockchain technology could place patients in control of their information. Individuals could choose when and who to share their imaging results with and keep better track of such information.
5. Imaging is often used to monitor patients’ disease progression or regression during clinical trials and blockchain offers a “tamper-proof” way to record such data. “Blockchain technology applied to imaging within clinical trials would deliver provenance-assured data sets to third parties for analysis,” the authors wrote.
6. Creating AI algorithms requires robust data, input from many experts and validation across radiology departments. Blockchain systems would document who has contributed information, radiologists’ annotations and vendor contributions. As a secure ledger, such technology would enable institutions to easily share datasets.
You can read much more about how this emerging technology can change imaging here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.