Framework to enable pharmacist access to health care data using Blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Blockchain Technology in Healthcare
• Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Blockchain technology and AI offer decentralized, secure data sharing for healthcare providers.
• Community pharmacists' clinical services are limited by restricted access to patient health records.
• A conceptual framework integrating blockchain and AI is proposed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a conceptual framework for improved health data access in community pharmacies.
• To leverage blockchain technology and AI for enhanced patient care within community pharmacy settings.
• To support pharmacists' clinical decision-making through secure access to electronic health records.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Literature was analyzed to identify specific applications of blockchain in health systems.
• The Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP) was used to pinpoint critical areas for blockchain integration.

Main Results:

• Seven articles were included from an initial 70, identifying 'Assess' and 'Implement' within the PPCP as key areas for blockchain.
• A model was proposed where pharmacists use AI and blockchain for comprehensive medication assessment.
• This enables pharmacists to access laboratory results and patient health records for informed clinical decisions.

Conclusions:

• Secure health data sharing via blockchain can significantly improve patient outcomes and medication safety in community pharmacies.
• The integration of blockchain and AI can amplify the role of pharmacists in patient care.
• Future research should focus on real-world implementation and validation of the proposed model.