Why do healthcare systems constantly fail?
First of all, we have to ask ourselves why healthcare systems constantly fail to solve the core problems in health data management. Despite the fact that they often use the latest data science tools.
Is it because the latest data science tools becomes mere buzzwords the software companies use when pitching their systems to healthcare providers? This is sadly often the case. The latest buzzword, blockchain, is no exception in this respect.
Like a patient impossible to cure
The EHR system is like a patient that is seemingly impossible to cure.
In this analogy, as soon as a new drug is introduced—in the shape of a new data science technology—it is always seen as the last missing drug that hopefully will finally cure the constantly ill patient.
This approach has been tested for over half a century now but it never managed to cure the patient. In many ways the patient only got worse.
It is not a technical problem
The reason all new and old data science technologies have failed to cure the patient, is because the cause of the problems isn’t technical.
We actually never had a privacy or security problem. All we ever had was an ownership problem.
The true solution is simple
As soon as you start to own your own healthcare data you realise that all the various problems plaguing EHR systems will disappear. You will bring your healthcare data to the care provider the same way you bring your body. No need for your hospital to store and secure your medical records indefinitely anymore.
The philosophy of Open Source is key
In order to create this opportunity to totally own your medical records, committing to open source philosophy is essential. It is your data that should be kept top secret, not the source code for the system.
In addition, open source philosophy secures that your medical records will always exist and be available, from the day you are born to the day you die, potentially 100+ years later.
Wiki
The best way to implement all basic functionality of a medical record is to base it on one of the many wiki engines available as open source.
There are many Wiki engines to choose from
Starting the project
Once a suitable wiki engine and peer-to-peer technology has been selected all that remains is to develop the pttp web portal as an open source project.