scholarly journals Healthchain: A novel framework on privacy preservation of electronic health records using blockchain technology

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243043
Author(s):  
Shekha Chenthara ◽  
Khandakar Ahmed ◽  
Hua Wang ◽  
Frank Whittaker ◽  
Zhenxiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Cyber Attacks ◽  
Security Risk ◽  
Patient Privacy ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Electronic Health

The privacy of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is facing a major hurdle with outsourcing private health data in the cloud as there exists danger of leaking health information to unauthorized parties. In fact, EHRs are stored on centralized databases that increases the security risk footprint and requires trust in a single authority which cannot effectively protect data from internal attacks. This research focuses on ensuring the patient privacy and data security while sharing the sensitive data across same or different organisations as well as healthcare providers in a distributed environment. This research develops a privacy-preserving framework viz Healthchain based on Blockchain technology that maintains security, privacy, scalability and integrity of the e-health data. The Blockchain is built on Hyperledger fabric, a permissioned distributed ledger solutions by using Hyperledger composer and stores EHRs by utilizing InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to build this healthchain framework. Moreover, the data stored in the IPFS is encrypted by using a unique cryptographic public key encryption algorithm to create a robust blockchain solution for electronic health data. The objective of the research is to provide a foundation for developing security solutions against cyber-attacks by exploiting the inherent features of the blockchain, and thus contribute to the robustness of healthcare information sharing environments. Through the results, the proposed model shows that the healthcare records are not traceable to unauthorized access as the model stores only the encrypted hash of the records that proves effectiveness in terms of data security, enhanced data privacy, improved data scalability, interoperability and data integrity while sharing and accessing medical records among stakeholders across the healthchain network.

scholarly journals Towards a Stakeholder-Oriented Blockchain-Based Architecture for Electronic Health Records: Design Science Research Study

10.2196/13585 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. e13585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Heinrich Beinke ◽  
Christian Fitte ◽  
Frank Teuteberg
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Design Science Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Recommendations For Action ◽  
Electronic Health

Background Data security issues still constitute the main reason for the sluggish dissemination of electronic health records (EHRs). Given that blockchain technology offers the possibility to verify transactions through a decentralized network, it may serve as a solution to secure health-related data. Therefore, we have identified stakeholder-specific requirements and propose a blockchain-based architecture for EHRs, while referring to the already existing scientific discussions on the potential of blockchain for use in EHRs. Objective This study aimed to introduce blockchain technology for EHRs, based on identifying stakeholders and systematically eliciting their requirements, and to discuss the key benefits (KBs) and key challenges (KCs) of blockchain technology in the context of EHRs. Methods The blockchain-based architecture was developed in the framework of the design science research paradigm. The requirements were identified using a structured literature review and interviews with nine health care experts. Subsequently, the proposed architecture was evaluated using 4 workshops with 15 participants. Results We identified three major EHR stakeholder groups and 34 respective requirements. On this basis, we developed a five-layer architecture. The subsequent evaluation of the artifact was followed by the discussion of 12 KBs and 12 KCs of a blockchain-based architecture for EHRs. To address the KCs, we derived five recommendations for action for science and practice. Conclusions Our findings indicate that blockchain technology offers considerable potential to advance EHRs. Improvements to currently available EHR solutions are expected, for instance, in the areas of data security, traceability, and automation by smart contracts. Future research could examine the patient’s acceptance of blockchain-based EHRs and cost-benefit analyses.

scholarly journals Towards a Stakeholder-Oriented Blockchain-Based Architecture for Electronic Health Records: Design Science Research Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Heinrich Beinke ◽  
Christian Fitte ◽  
Frank Teuteberg
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Design Science Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Recommendations For Action ◽  
Electronic Health

BACKGROUND Data security issues still constitute the main reason for the sluggish dissemination of electronic health records (EHRs). Given that blockchain technology offers the possibility to verify transactions through a decentralized network, it may serve as a solution to secure health-related data. Therefore, we have identified stakeholder-specific requirements and propose a blockchain-based architecture for EHRs, while referring to the already existing scientific discussions on the potential of blockchain for use in EHRs. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to introduce blockchain technology for EHRs, based on identifying stakeholders and systematically eliciting their requirements, and to discuss the key benefits (KBs) and key challenges (KCs) of blockchain technology in the context of EHRs. METHODS The blockchain-based architecture was developed in the framework of the design science research paradigm. The requirements were identified using a structured literature review and interviews with nine health care experts. Subsequently, the proposed architecture was evaluated using 4 workshops with 15 participants. RESULTS We identified three major EHR stakeholder groups and 34 respective requirements. On this basis, we developed a five-layer architecture. The subsequent evaluation of the artifact was followed by the discussion of 12 KBs and 12 KCs of a blockchain-based architecture for EHRs. To address the KCs, we derived five recommendations for action for science and practice. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that blockchain technology offers considerable potential to advance EHRs. Improvements to currently available EHR solutions are expected, for instance, in the areas of data security, traceability, and automation by smart contracts. Future research could examine the patient’s acceptance of blockchain-based EHRs and cost-benefit analyses.

Preserving Data Privacy in Electronic Health Records Using Blockchain Technology

2021 ◽  
pp. 1222-1230
Author(s):  
Sathiyabhama B. ◽  
Rajeswari K. C. ◽  
Reenadevi R. ◽  
Arul Murugan R.
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
The People ◽  
Predominant Factor ◽  
Electronic Health

Technology is a boon to mankind in this fast-growing era. The advancement in technology is the predominant factor for the sophisticated way of living of the people. In spite of technology, revolution happens across the world, and mankind still suffers due to various health issues. Healthcare industries take immense measures to improve the quality of life. An enormous volume of digital data is being handled every day in the healthcare industry. There arises a need for the intervention of technology in the healthcare industry to be taken to a greater extent. The prime duty of any healthcare industry is to store and maintain those data in the form of electronic health records (EHR) in a secured manner.

Preserving Data Privacy in Electronic Health Records Using Blockchain Technology

2020 ◽  
pp. 195-206
Author(s):  
Sathiyabhama B. ◽  
Rajeswari K. C. ◽  
Reenadevi R. ◽  
Arul Murugan R.
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
The People ◽  
Predominant Factor ◽  
Electronic Health

Technology is a boon to mankind in this fast-growing era. The advancement in technology is the predominant factor for the sophisticated way of living of the people. In spite of technology, revolution happens across the world, and mankind still suffers due to various health issues. Healthcare industries take immense measures to improve the quality of life. An enormous volume of digital data is being handled every day in the healthcare industry. There arises a need for the intervention of technology in the healthcare industry to be taken to a greater extent. The prime duty of any healthcare industry is to store and maintain those data in the form of electronic health records (EHR) in a secured manner.

scholarly journals A Risk Analysis on Blockchain Technology Usage for Electronic Health Records

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Christian Ploder ◽  
Teresa Spiess ◽  
Reinhard Bernsteiner ◽  
Thomas Dilger ◽  
Rebecca Weichelt
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Electronic Health

Health data is one of the most valuable data and highly sensitive. Its careful handling is essential in today' s digitalized world and cloud technology use for sharing. Health Information Systems facilitate the storage and accessibility of health data for better care along the patient path. As the integration of all historical patient data, the Electronic Health Record is at the heart of health data management. The centralization of stored health data represents a single point of failure and trust, making data exchange across institutions difficult and insecure. Blockchain technology builds on consensus mechanisms and immutable chains of blocks for validating and securing data transactions as a modern decentralized approach. The application of blockchain technology for Electronic Health Records is promising but still a young concept. Due to the wide range of discussion, this paper aims at identifying risks by using blockchain technology in the eHealth sector. Based on a systematic literature review, various authors' argumentations and findings are examined and concluded to set up the empirical study. The semistructured qualitative interview study aims to find out the threats of blockchain. The paper concludes with an overall discussion and some implementation recommendations.

The process of sourcing and preparing electronic health records data to implement a machine-learning algorithm for early identification of maternal cardiovascular risk (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nawar Shara ◽  
Kelley M. Anderson ◽  
Noor Falah ◽  
Maryam F. Ahmad ◽  
Darya Tavazoei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Patient Records ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Electronic Health

BACKGROUND Healthcare data are fragmenting as patients seek care from diverse sources. Consequently, patient care is negatively impacted by disparate health records. Machine learning (ML) offers a disruptive force in its ability to inform and improve patient care and outcomes [6]. However, the differences that exist in each individual’s health records, combined with the lack of health-data standards, in addition to systemic issues that render the data unreliable and that fail to create a single view of each patient, create challenges for ML. While these problems exist throughout healthcare, they are especially prevalent within maternal health, and exacerbate the maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) crisis in the United States. OBJECTIVE Maternal patient records were extracted from the electronic health records (EHRs) of a large tertiary healthcare system and made into patient-specific, complete datasets through a systematic method so that a machine-learning-based (ML-based) risk-assessment algorithm could effectively identify maternal cardiovascular risk prior to evidence of diagnosis or intervention within the patient’s record. METHODS We outline the effort that was required to define the specifications of the computational systems, the dataset, and access to relevant systems, while ensuring data security, privacy laws, and policies were met. Data acquisition included the concatenation, anonymization, and normalization of health data across multiple EHRs in preparation for its use by a proprietary risk-stratification algorithm designed to establish patient-specific baselines to identify and establish cardiovascular risk based on deviations from the patient’s baselines to inform early interventions. RESULTS Patient records can be made actionable for the goal of effectively employing machine learning (ML), specifically to identify cardiovascular risk in pregnant patients. CONCLUSIONS Upon acquiring data, including the concatenation, anonymization, and normalization of said data across multiple EHRs, the use of a machine-learning-based (ML-based) tool can provide early identification of cardiovascular risk in pregnant patients. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

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