Personal health records: Blockchain-based identity management and data ownership
Ohud Aldamaeen, Waleed Rashideh, Sameer Alalawi, Waeal J. Obidallah · The 5th International Conference on Future Networks & Distributed Systems · 2021
Data privacy and security preservation are essential issues in the public sector and, particularly, in the health and medical sectors. Patients often lose their data and medical history if they must move between hospitals. In these cases, other health care providers must repeat some procedures, such as analyses and x-rays. An approach that focuses on securely managing and sharing patient health records is thus required. As traditional centralised systems in hospitals do not meet the requirements for such an approach, this calls for the implementation of a secure structure that is capable of protecting patient data. One potential solution is the use of decentralised personal health records in a system that would allow the patient to own, manage and access their own data. This can be achieved by using the type of blockchain technology that would permit patients to identify shareable information and grant or prevent providers and other entities from accessing their data. Utilising the methodology of design science, this research will propose a solution for personal health records management by identifying the necessary requirements, and advantages and disadvantages of such a system. The study will propose a solution that will allow the patients to own, control, and benefit from their data.