Read the full press release from the ONC at: www.hhs.gov
Last week, the ONC issued a press release for the winners of their Blockchain challenge winners. The official title of their contenst is “Use of Blockchain in Health IT and Health-related Research Challenge.”
For those unfamiliar with Blockchain, this article from the Australian Business Review offers a good starting point: Blockchain: Distributed ledger technology still misunderstood.
Key quote from the article: “Using blockchain to solve problems in healthcare, supply chain management and energy markets are all worthy initiatives, but we have to understand that this technology is still in its formative stage.”
According to the ONC release:
ONC received more than 70 submissions from a wide range of individuals, organizations and companies addressing ways that Blockchain technology might be used in health and health IT to protect, manage, and exchange electronic health information.
“We are thrilled by the incredible amount of interest in this challenge,” said Vindell Washington, M.D., M.H.C.M., national coordinator for health IT. “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.”
