Blockchain as a quality management tool in healthcare institutions: Ensuring data integrity and patient safety

Abstract

The study adopts a conceptual research design that combines a structured synthesis of the scholarly literature with a comparative review of selected international initiatives. This approach enables the identification and clarification of the key mechanisms through which blockchain can be integrated into quality management practices. The results of the study highlight four key dimensions of blockchain's contribution to quality management: transparency and traceability, security and trust, automation and efficiency, and practical information sharing through a common record for all authorised actors. In parallel, the study delineates constraints associated with standardisation, interoperability, cost, privacy, and scalability, which collectively shape both feasibility and operational performance. The findings indicate that blockchain can serve as an organisational mechanism for structuring and reinforcing quality processes by enhancing auditability and supporting evidence-based decision-making; however, its practical impact depends on appropriate governance arrangements and effective integration with existing systems and workflows.