by Jacek Korneluk

In this article, I am super excited to write about a groundbreaking project named LedgerMed – “The Medical Lego Solution.”

At its core, it’s about unifying the fragmented segments of various digital health projects into one robust, composable platform.

Sooner or later, we are all going to deal with some health issues, and we need help to fix our organic body problems.

Whether it is prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation, we expect a high-quality service that is fair and equal, no matter where we live. And of course, we want this service delivered ASAP.

This demand can put a strain on traditional healthcare systems, which are already struggling to keep up with an ageing population and growing demands. On top of that, we are apparently facing a skills shortage, can you believe that?

So, fewer medical staff will be pushed to do more tasks, and it is not hard to see how this could lead to more burnout and even affect the quality of medical service, creating a vicious cycle we need to avoid.

The traditional health system is currently a series of disconnected ledgers, with each individual having multiple incomplete records scattered across various providers. Imagine a separate ledger for every hospital, GP, pathology lab, and radiology provider a person visits.

Ideally, these should form a “complete general” ledger, but the reality is far from it. Each individual ledger is prone to errors and lacks interoperability.

This pseudo-composability means that when a patient is admitted to a hospital, a junior staff member must manually contact all previous providers to gather a fragmented medical history.

LedgerMed aims to solve this problem. The same blockchain technology that supports LedgerMed’s composability can also redefine the governance structure of healthcare services. As LedgerMed distributes healthcare across a network of services, it ensures seamless composability and accurate, up-to-date records across the entire network.” In simple words, everyone is on the same page!

I have a background in traditional Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Diagnostic Services, combined with a deep understanding of emerging technologies.

Technologies like Blockchain, AI, Smart Contracts (SC), Internet of Things (IoT), Web3, Metaverse, Digital Twins, and Industry 4.0 are part of my passion and form a portfolio of expertise.

Having good knowledge of both domains – medical and technical – helps me better understand underlying problems. It enables me to look at the healthcare system from both perspectives – traditional, and the new digitally transformed one

The LedgerMed initiative is all about reinventing the health ecosystem by merging emerging technologies with the world of digital healthcare. It is like bringing together all the best and relevant pieces from Web2, Web3, AI, and the Metaverse to build something new, truly needed, and useful.

LedgerMed idea kicked off in 2022 as a project submission to the Western Australian Government Health initiative called “The Challenge – Reimagining Regional and Remote Health Care.”

But the idea behind it has roots in my earlier ventures back in Poland.

Let me take you on a little trip down memory lane. Back in 1994, I founded Spektrum ZDL – a private pathology service.

Over the years, I also co-founded and supported two more private healthcare clinic networks, Triada and CenterMed.

These experiences cemented my belief in a complex healthcare delivery system that is as composable and modular as a Lego set.

After moving to Australia and completing my postgraduate studies in Blockchain and AI Strategies at RMIT, I started to envision a fully digital, complex healthcare system.

I was lucky to meet my RMIT colleagues and classmates who share an interest in Medical AI and Medical Blockchain. Together we are combining our multidisciplinary experience with current knowledge of emerging technologies.

My RMIT classmates supported me from the early beginning of the preparation, writing, and submission to The Challenge.

They are helping me till today, as we stay in contact, and I am still working on the LedgerMed project.

Additionally, a couple of friendly professionals who currently working on Metaverse and AI integration into their medical services offered their advice and open discussion.

We share similar interests and values. Same time we are looking for comparable outcomes.

To design a new medical solution leveraging blockchain technology, smart contracts, IoTs, Metaverse, Web3, and AI.

Project LedgerMed is where we are in the ideation phase, working on practical solutions for a blockchain-based, clinic-like platform.

Think of it as a digital clinic made up of smaller, independently operating segments – like a bunch of Lego bricks coming together to build something bigger and better. We are primarily using Web3 technologies but keeping some Web2 elements to ensure hybrid cooperation. It is all about taking what’s good from Web2 and adding the novelties of Web3.

You could even call it Medical Web5 if you like, but the main aim is to deliver on the promises of better, more efficient healthcare.

Right now, we are focusing on the conceptual and ideation stages, designing LedgerMed from a user-centric perspective. This means crafting intuitive apps and interfaces for patients, healthcare professionals, and administrative staff.

On the backend, we are planning to design robust solutions to ensure everything runs smoothly. Also, thinking about creating a strategic partnership – working with medical health funds, supply chain providers, insurance companies, and legal experts.

In a nutshell, LedgerMed aims to address the current challenges in healthcare – unequal distribution of services and long-term sustainability.

LedgerMed “The Medical Lego Solution” emphasises modularity and interoperability, making healthcare delivery more efficient and accessible for everyone.

So, we are all working on different aspects of health delivery, each of us bringing our expertise to the table. It is like each of us represents a unique Lego piece, fitting together to form a complex, cohesive body.

What we really need is a matrix that combines all our efforts into a sustainable, efficient system. That is where LedgerMed idea comes in, setting the base for the digital health system of the future.

We all share a passion for traditional healthcare delivery but with a twist – integrating emerging technologies to enhance medical practice. Think of us as pioneers on the same boat, discovering the potential of digital health in real-world practice.

Everyone is an expert in their area – each represents a vital Lego piece in this medical puzzle. What we all need, though, is that digital “glue,” the algorithmic matrix that binds our interdisciplinary efforts into a cohesive whole.

From a patient’s first inquiry to the final medical outcome, every step and every department – health funds, insurers, pharmacies, nurses, labs, diagnostics, and more – needs to be seamlessly integrated.

For the new system to truly outperform the traditional model, it must include all relevant services in the entire medical process.  Each part must be represented according to its importance.

Each component of this complex digital machine is equally important, much like the intricate parts of a Swiss watch. The new digital health solutions must work with the precision and reliability of Swiss watches.

We are not just looking for small tweaks or adjustments; we are talking about a fundamental change. It is about transitioning from one state to another, not just adjusting, postponing, or pretending to improve.

We are thinking about how to solve some of the most important medical problems.

In healthcare, prevention is always better than treatment. So, we are not waiting for a fully grown disaster but building out a new solution.

LedgerMed’s vision is big, bold, and totally attainable. By integrating Web3 and other emerging technologies, we’re building a concept of a digital health system that’s resilient, sustainable, and capable of delivering superior medical outcomes.

The future of healthcare looks good, and through continued collaboration and innovation, we are well on our way to help make it become a reality.

I would like to express my gratitude to my RMIT classmates: Colm McCourt, Prakash Govender, and Adrian Monico, and my medical colleagues: Jaroslaw Hryniewicki and Darren Webb.

Each of you contributes to emerging technology-powered medical solutions. Without your inspiration, it would be much more difficult for me to continue with the project.

Thank you for discussing with me, advising, and supporting me on my LedgerMed journey.

Your opinions are highly encouraging, technically relevant, and therefore priceless. With professionals like you, I strongly believe that the transformation of the medical system into a more sustainable model is possible and coming soon.

PS.

Once again, I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to Professor Adam Danek, Professor Leon Liszka, and Professor Jerzy W. Naskalski for their invaluable guidance and expertise throughout my academic journey in Poland. I also want to thank the RMIT academic professors and tutors who helped me develop a deep understanding of emerging technologies. Their dedication, insight, and support have significantly contributed to my development and achievements. I am deeply grateful for their mentorship.

Oryginally published on June 22, 2024 at:

https://spektrumlab.io/ledgermed-revolutionizing-healthcare-with-blockchain-technology/