The healthcare industry is changing fast, and new technologies are playing a big role in this change. One of the most exciting developments is the rise of digital credentials and verifiable credentials. These new solutions can make healthcare processes simpler, safer, and better for patients. 

Here, we will discuss why the healthcare industry needs digital credentials and how they are going to shape the future with verifiable credentials. 

Why Healthcare Needs Digital Credentials 

The healthcare sector relies a lot on documents, whether it is patient records or the skills and qualifications of medical professionals. In a hospital or a healthcare facility, thousands of such records are checked or issued every day. But the way this is done today is often slow and complicated. Using paper-based systems can have errors, inefficiencies, and security risks. So, digital credentialing can be a solution here. 

Digital credentials are like electronic versions of all those certificates, licenses, and patients’ health data. They are stored online, so they are super easy to share and check. However, only storing data online doesn’t guarantee privacy and security. 

In 2023, over 30 million people were affected by healthcare data breaches, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Till September 2024, this number reached over 20 million. These breaches can happen because of hacking, theft, loss of records, or unauthorized access, showing that we really need better and safer ways to manage credentials. 

Verifiable Credentials Are the Future 

Verifiable credentials take digital credentialing a step further by adding a layer of cryptographic security and decentralized verification. These secure digital credentials can’t be faked and can represent all kinds of information, like patient records, immunizations, diagnoses, allergies, lab results, and prescriptions.  

Since the holders (patients) own and control their health data, verifiable credentials give people the power to decide who can access their sensitive information and for how long. 

Based on standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), verifiable credentials offer several key advantages: 

• Tamper-Proof: Cryptographic signatures ensure the integrity of the credential. So. It is impossible to forge or alter. 

• Self-Sovereign: Individuals have control over their own credentials. They decide when and with whom to share them. 

• Instantly Verifiable: Credentials can be verified in real-time, without the need for time-consuming manual checks. 

• Privacy-Preserving: Selective disclosure allows individuals to share only the necessary information so they protect sensitive health data from cyber threats. 

• Interoperable: Verifiable credentials can be used across different systems and platforms – which means seamless information exchange. 

This approach changes the centralized “honeypot” model, which can fail easily, into a strong decentralized network with multiple backups and security points. 

Also Read: What are Verifiable Credentials and Why You Must Know About Them Today 

How Digital and Verifiable Credentials Transform Healthcare 

The use of digital and verifiable credentials in healthcare has the potential to fix many of the credentialing problems faced by the healthcare industry. Let’s explore some of the key areas where this technology can make a significant impact. 

Better Patient Care with Complete Records 

Verifiable credentials can improve patient care by giving healthcare providers access to more complete and accurate health records. As people change jobs and insurance providers throughout their lives, putting together a full health history becomes harder and harder. With verifiable credentials, patients can create a portable, secure record of their health information that they can easily share with medical professionals, insurance companies, and family members when needed. 

Let’s take the example of Peter, a patient who has had an average of 12.4 jobs between 18 and 54. Each time he changes employers and insurance providers, he must start with new in-network primary care physicians, specialists, and same-day care facilities. With verifiable credentials, Peter can make this process easier by giving his new healthcare providers instant access to his complete health history. This ensures continuity of care and reduces the risk of medical errors. 

Easier Credentialing Processes  

Digital credentials and verifiable credentials also offer big benefits for healthcare organizations and professionals. By automating the credentialing process, healthcare providers can reduce administrative work, improve efficiency, and lower costs. A case study involving eight U.S. health systems found that using real-time digital credentials in onboarding processes can save millions of dollars, with one large health system estimating a savings of $74,000 per physician. 

Verifiable credentials can be used for thorough background checks on potential faculty members, resident physicians, and support staff, ensuring the highest standards of qualification and ethics in the medical field. They also simplify hospital-specific registration processes, get rid of redundant paperwork and improve transparency and security. 

Support Continuous Learning and Development 

In the medical field, learning new skills and education is essential for healthcare professionals to stay competent. Digital credentials can play a major role in tracking and managing continuing medical education (CME) credits.  

When a doctor completes a CME course, the institution that offers it can create a verifiable credential that the physician can store in a digital wallet, which makes it easy to show proof of their ongoing learning and development to medical boards and hospitals. 

Patient Safety and Trust 

Digital credentials, especially when implemented as verifiable credentials, reduce the risk of credential fraud. This increased security directly converts to improved patient safety and increased trust in healthcare providers. 

For instance, a patient can use a mobile app to scan a QR code on their doctor’s badge, instantly verifying the doctor’s credentials and specializations. Plus, when they have control over their health records, they have peace of mind that their sensitive information cannot be accessed or used by anyone else. 

Secure Data Sharing and Interoperability 

Digital credentials can help hospitals and clinics share data more easily. When they are issued as verifiable credentials, this process of sharing becomes more secure and interoperable. 

For example, a laboratory can send patient reports to a hospital using verifiable credentials very securely. The verifiable nature of the credentials means that the receiving institutions can trust the information without lengthy verification processes. 

Better Compliance 

The healthcare industry must follow HIPAA and HITECH guidelines. Verifiable credentials make it easy. Whether it is about the privacy of patient information or the professional certificates of medical professionals, VCs ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. 

For instance, a hospital admin receives an alert when a doctor’s or nurse’s license is about to expire. This allows timely renewal and compliance. 

The Bottom Line 

The future of digital credentials and verifiable credentials in healthcare seems promising. By providing a secure, efficient, and patient-centered approach to credential management, these technologies can revolutionize the industry.  

As healthcare organizations and professionals embrace these innovations, it’s important to work with trusted partners who can provide the expertise and support needed to successfully implement and manage digital credential solutions. EveryCRED is one such partner. We offer services for issuing, managing, and verifying digital credentials in the healthcare sector and beyond.  

You can partner with us and can confidently incorporate this futuristic technology today.