Blockchain Prescription Verification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current prescription systems lack the ability to provide patients with real-time cost comparison and flexibility in choosing any pharmacy for medication fulfillment while maintaining security and privacy.
Innovation Solution
An electronic prescription messaging system that uses unique authentication and drug keys, coupled with a blockchain-based secure encryption system, allows physicians to create prescriptions that can be filled at any subscribed pharmacy, providing patients with cost comparisons and ensuring privacy through encrypted communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prescription data is transmitted through traditional client/server systems, then security may be improved through encryption, but patient access flexibility and real-time cost comparison capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A blockchain-based intermediary system is introduced between the prescription issuer and fulfillment systems. This blockchain network acts as a decentralized mediator that enables multiple pharmacies to access and compete for prescription fulfillment while maintaining security through cryptographic verification, thus resolving the contradiction between security and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The prescription data structure is designed with universal fields that can be interpreted and acted upon by multiple different pharmacy systems and fulfillment platforms. This multi-functional design allows the same prescription data to serve various purposes across different pharmacies, enhancing flexibility without compromising the core security requirements
2Reliability
If prescription systems use centralized server architecture, then data control and security are improved, but system complexity and access barriers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized prescription system is segmented into distributed blockchain nodes that independently verify and store prescription data. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure and reduces complexity at each individual node while maintaining overall system security through distributed consensus mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical centralized server control is replaced with cryptographic verification and blockchain consensus protocols. This substitution reduces the need for complex centralized control mechanisms while maintaining or enhancing security through mathematical proof systems
3Reliability
If prescription pricing is only revealed at pharmacy fulfillment, then pricing security is maintained, but patient ability to compare costs and make informed decisions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Pricing information is made available in advance of pharmacy fulfillment through the blockchain system. Pharmacies can query and compare pricing data beforehand, allowing patients to make informed decisions about where to fill prescriptions while the actual fulfillment process maintains data integrity through verification protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for requesting and receiving prescription verification is described. A patient may establish a secure communication with a cloud-based server and receive a machine-readable code including the patient's encrypted information. The patient may present the code to a physician, whereupon the physician may communicate the coded patient information to the cloud-based server and the physician may communicate prescription information to an electronic clearinghouse. Upon patient's presentation of the code to a pharmacy, the pharmacist may verify the prescription with the clearinghouse; the clearinghouse validating the patient information with the cloud-based server. Upon verification, the pharmacist may fill the prescription.