Investigating the Future of Healthcare Supply Chains: The Need for Further Research and Policy Integration for Blockchain Initiatives

Healthcare supply chains are more complex than many other industries. They include a wide range of products like medicines, medical devices, surgical tools, and new technologies such as Internet of Healthy Things (IoHT) devices. Unlike other fields, problems in healthcare supply chains can directly harm patients. If the chain fails or is poorly managed, fake medicines may reach patients, broken medical devices might be used, or important supplies may run out.

One big challenge is making sure the supply chain is clear, traceable, and secure at every step. Right now, supply chains are split up, data is often unreliable, and they are open to fraud and mistakes. Keeping supplies safe is hard because many groups are involved—manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, and regulators—all with different systems and rules.

According to Kevin A. Clauson and his team from Lipscomb University and UC San Diego, these issues are serious and affect the health of patients in the U.S. They say blockchain could solve many problems by creating a shared, secure ledger that records product histories clearly and openly.

Blockchain Technology: A Potential Solution

Blockchain is a type of technology that records transactions in a way that is open and secure. It is very hard to change the records once they are made. In healthcare supply chains, blockchain can help in several ways:

• Improved Security and Integrity: Records are shared among participants and secured using codes. This lowers the chance of changing data or fraud, making it harder for fake medicines to enter the system.
• Enhanced Traceability: Every step, from making drugs to transporting and storing them, is recorded permanently. This helps healthcare providers track where products came from and check if they are real.
• Better Data Provenance: Blockchain shows a clear record of where products have been and under what conditions. This is important for sensitive items like vaccines or medicines that need special storage temperatures.
• Functionality Across Sectors: Besides medicines, blockchain can secure medical devices, improve IoHT systems, and help public health agencies manage supplies better.

Even with these benefits, blockchain is still new. Elizabeth A. Breeden, one of the writers, says most blockchain projects in healthcare are still being tested. Full use has not happened yet because of technical challenges, a lack of common rules, and unclear laws.

Drivers and Barriers to Adoption in the U.S. Healthcare Supply Chain

A review by Keru Duan and others looked at 133 studies about blockchain in supply chains. They found factors inside and outside organizations that affect blockchain use in healthcare.

Internal Drivers:

• Organizational Readiness: Healthcare groups need the right technology, plans, and management support to use blockchain well.
• Technology Integration: How easily blockchain can work with existing systems affects its success.

External Drivers:

• Market Pressure: Competition and demands from customers and partners push groups to invest in blockchain.
• Regulatory Environment: Clear policies help use blockchain, while unclear or strict rules slow it down.
• Technological Advancements: Better blockchain tech that can handle more data and is safer helps adoption.

Barriers:

• High Implementation Costs: Starting with blockchain and training staff can be expensive.
• Lack of Standardization: Without common data rules, different blockchain systems cannot work well together, making cooperation hard.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: Unclear laws from government slow down adoption as groups wait for clear rules.
• Skill Shortages: There are not enough experts who know both blockchain and healthcare, which makes running and fixing systems difficult.

These points explain why many blockchain projects in healthcare supply chains in the U.S. are still in testing stages.

Blockchain Use Cases Relevant to U.S. Healthcare

There are several ways blockchain can help healthcare supply chains:

• Combating Counterfeit Medicines: Blockchain can track each medicine from the factory to the patient. This lowers the risk of fake drugs, which is a serious issue in the U.S.
• Securing Medical Devices: Blockchain can keep records of how devices are made, maintained, and used. This makes sure devices are safe and meet rules.
• Optimizing IoHT Functionality: IoHT devices, like wearables and connected equipment, benefit from blockchain security to protect patient information and device functions.
• Enhancing Public Health Supply Chains: Blockchain makes vaccine and emergency supply distribution clearer and faster, which helps during health emergencies.

Kevin A. Clauson points out these benefits but says more study and better policies are needed before blockchain can be used widely in the U.S.

Regulatory and Policy Challenges in the U.S.

One big problem for blockchain use in healthcare is unclear policies. U.S. regulations are scattered. Agencies like the FDA and CMS give some guidance on tracking drugs and devices, but rules for blockchain’s legality, data privacy, and sharing across states are still not fully clear.

Good policies are necessary to encourage more blockchain use. Regulations should:

• Define Standards: Create shared data models, security rules, and ways for different groups to share data easily.
• Clarify Legal Status: Decide if blockchain records are legally valid and who is responsible if problems occur.
• Promote Data Privacy Compliance: Make sure blockchain follows patient privacy laws like HIPAA while staying transparent.
• Support Innovation: Provide rules that let blockchain testing grow without too many obstacles.

Without these policies, healthcare groups in the U.S. will likely keep testing blockchain rather than fully using it.

Role of Artificial Intelligence and Workflow Automation in Healthcare Supply Chains

Apart from blockchain, AI and workflow automation can also improve healthcare supply chains. These tools can work together with blockchain to make the system faster, safer, and more responsive.

Artificial Intelligence Applications:

• Demand Forecasting: AI studies past data, seasonal changes, and patient info to predict supply needs. This helps avoid running out or having too much stock.
• Risk Detection: AI watches supply transactions and alerts people about unusual activity that might mean fraud, fake products, or delays.
• Automated Compliance Monitoring: AI tracks rules in many places to ensure supply chain actions follow the law.

Workflow Automation:

• Order Processing: Automated systems handle orders faster and with fewer mistakes.
• Inventory Management: These tools manage restocking and check storage conditions, especially for sensitive items like vaccines.
• Communication Efficiency: AI-powered phone and answering systems help communication between suppliers, healthcare providers, and patients by managing routine questions and reminders, allowing staff to focus on important work.

When AI works with blockchain, it improves data accuracy and efficiency. For example, AI can analyze blockchain data to predict supply needs or find problems. Workflow automation can speed up entering data into blockchain systems, helping the supply chain stay visible and reliable in real time.

Importance for U.S. Healthcare Practice Administrators and IT Managers

For administrators and IT managers in U.S. medical offices, learning about these new technologies is important. Managing healthcare supplies well affects costs and patient care quality.

Since blockchain is still developing, practices can begin by:

• Watching pilot projects and checking out healthcare blockchain vendors.
• Joining industry groups and working with regulators to get updates on standards and policies.
• Trying AI and automation tools to improve office work and supply management, which lowers workload and mistakes.
• Working with supply chain partners to see how ready they are to share data and work together.

These technologies could help medical practices control supplies better, track medical products more easily, and meet rules more simply. This leads to safer and more dependable care for patients.

The future of healthcare supply chains in the U.S. needs teamwork among tech developers, healthcare providers, lawmakers, and researchers. Blockchain, with help from AI and automation, shows much promise. But full benefits will come only after ongoing research, better policies, common standards, and more skilled workers in healthcare.