Creative Strategies to Protect Patients’ Health Records and Confidentiality Using Blockchain Technology
V. Karthikeyan, G. Kirubakaran, K. Gopalakrishnan, S. Sridhar Raj · 2024
Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, making it even more difficult to keep patients’ health records secure and private in the dynamic healthcare system. This study explores novel approaches to healthcare record security that make use of blockchain technology. The inadequacy of conventional approaches to healthcare data security necessitates the search for new avenues of investigation. One revolutionary tool that could solve these problems is blockchain technology, which uses a distributed and unchangeable record. Examining the weaknesses in healthcare data security frameworks is the first step of the research. Then, it delves into the fundamentals of blockchain technology, highlighting its key features—decentralization, immutability, and cryptographic security—by way of explanation. Various approaches reveal the innovative use of blockchain technology in healthcare. Using identity management systems based on the blockchain to control who may access medical records and strengthen user authentication is one way to reduce the likelihood of data breaches. Smart contracts, another feature of blockchain, can ensure that patient data is accessed and shared only with specific authorization by implementing strict privacy regulations and consent agreements. To further ensure information integrity, the article delves into the idea of data provenance on the blockchain, which gives patients the ability to track their health records throughout their whole lifespan. Blockchain platforms utilize cryptographic methods such as digital signatures and hashing to provide indisputable evidence of data validity, preventing any kind of unauthorized manipulation. Standardized protocols and frameworks are crucial for blockchain-based healthcare systems to ensure interoperability, as highlighted in the article. Stakeholder collaboration, supported by open-source projects and established business relationships, can achieve blockchain solutions that are both scalable and interoperable, meeting both regulatory needs and industry standards. As this article comes to a close, it argues that blockchain technology has great potential to strengthen healthcare records’ confidentiality and security. Innovative approaches like data provenance, decentralized identity management, and smart contracts might help healthcare organizations better protect their patients’ personal information. More people will have faith in the healthcare system and get better treatment as a result of these innovations.