3main Content
3main Content
Introduction
1.1 Overview
1. 2 History
The inception of Electronic Health Records (EHR) traces back to the late 20th century
when healthcare began transitioning from paper-based record-keeping to digital
formats. This shift was initially driven by the desire to improve the efficiency of
healthcare delivery and enhance the accessibility of patient information. Over the
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decades, EHR systems have evolved significantly, influenced by technological
advancements, regulatory changes, and the increasing need for a more integrated
healthcare approach. In the early stages, EHR systems were simple databases used
primarily for storage.
Despite the rapid deployment and advancements, EHR systems have faced persistent
challenges related to data interoperability, security, and patient privacy. The
fragmented nature of healthcare information systems, varying standards, and
protocols across different platforms and regions have led to interoperability issues,
complicating the seamless exchange of vital health information. Furthermore, as the
digitization of health records increased, so did concerns about data breaches and cyber
threats, underscoring the need for improved security measures in EHR systems. As we
move forward, blockchain stands to be a cornerstone technology that could redefine
the future of EHRs, ensuring that the digital record-keeping system not only supports
the operational needs of healthcare providers but also upholds the highest standards of
patient data protection and privacy.
The privacy and confidentiality blockchain provides allows patients and providers
precise control over who can view and modify records, a critical feature in
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maintaining patient privacy and adhering to strict regulatory standards like the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States.
Additionally, blockchain's inherent auditability features a transparent and immutable
history of all interactions with the data, providing a reliable audit trail for regulatory
compliance and medical reviews. This transparency, coupled with the system's
immutability, fosters trust among all stakeholders—patients, healthcare providers,
insurers, and regulators—by ensuring that the data has not been altered illicitly.
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prevalent in today's digital age. Enhanced patient control aligns with global moves
towards personalized medicine, where treatments and medical interventions are
increasingly tailored to individual patients based on their specific health data.
Lastly, the potential for blockchain to integrate with other cutting-edge technologies
such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and
predictive analytics further extends its impact. For example, blockchain can facilitate
the secure aggregation of vast amounts of health data from various sources, which can
be analyzed to uncover trends, improve disease prevention strategies, and even predict
outbreaks. This level of analytics can transform public health planning and emergency
response, making healthcare systems more proactive rather than reactive.
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Chapter 2
Review of Literature
2.1 Literature Survey
This survey highlights the critical issues related to data security, privacy, and
interoperability within the current healthcare data management systems. The focus
extends to examining the role of blockchain technology in healthcare, a promising
tool known for enhancing data integrity and enabling secure data exchanges. By
delving into these aspects, the review aims to establish a comprehensive foundation
that addresses the intricate challenges faced in healthcare data management, setting
the stage for the implementation of a more secure and efficient system.
2.2 Analysis
The literature review conducted in this research is documented in Table No. 2.1,
which synthesizes key findings from several influential studies on the implementation
of blockchain technology in EHR systems. This literature survey delves into existing
studies related to EHR systems, emphasizing critical aspects such as data security,
privacy, and interoperability. The table is organized to provide a systematic overview
of the scope, outcomes, and identified gaps in previous studies.
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Table 2.2.1: Literature Survey Table
Using
Transactions on Meeting healthcare
Blockchain for
1. October the blockchain are regulations while
Electronic IEEE
2019 transparent and using blockchain
Health
auditable, can be challenging.
Records
improving trust.
Blockchain
and
AI-Empowere EHRs on the
d Healthcare blockchain can be
No universal
Insurance stored securely
standards exist for
Fraud IEEE July 2022 for the long term,
blockchain in
2. Detection: an ensuring
healthcare
Analysis, historical health
Architecture, data availability.
and Future
Prospects
Blockchain-Ba
sed Electronic
Health Access to Replicating data on
Records January anonymized a blockchain can
Management: IEEE patient data can
3. 2022 increase storage
A facilitate medical needs.
Comprehensiv research and
e Review and analytics.
Future
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Research
Direction
An efficient
privacy-preser Patients are more
Data can be
ving control engaged in their
permanently lost if
4. mechanism Science healthcare
July 2023 private keys are
based on direct decisions and can
lost or
blockchain for share data with
compromised.
E-health various providers
applications
Secure
Electronic
No single entity Mining and
Medical
has control, maintaining
Records Science
June 2020 reducing the risk blockchain
Storage and direct
5. of data networks consume
Sharing Using
monopolies. significant energy.
Blockchain
Technology
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unauthorized unauthorized
access access
Blockchain
technology
Cloud-Assisted
ensures robust Staff and patients
Secure eHealth
7. encryption and may require
Systems for Science October
decentralized training to use
Tamper-Proofi Direct 2018
storage, making Blockchain-based
ng EHR via
EHRs highly EHRs effectively
Blockchain
secure against
breaches
A Taxonomic
Immutable ledger Healthcare
Review of the
ensures that EHR professionals may
use of IoT and Researc October
data cannot be struggle to adapt to
Blockchain in h Gate 2020
altered or blockchain
Healthcare
8. tampered with. technology.
applications
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threats in
healthcare IT
systems.
Chapter 3
In the era of digital healthcare, Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems are
invaluable, yet they confront a critical research gap that hampers their efficacy.
Dagher et al.[1] emphasize the structural vulnerabilities of centralized Electronic
Health Records (EHR) systems, particularly regarding security and robustness.
Despite the widespread adoption of EHR systems, these vulnerabilities remain a
significant concern, indicating a gap in research focusing on enhancing the security
and robustness of EHR systems.
Azbeg et al.[2] discuss the limitations of traditional EHR systems in ensuring data
integrity and preventing unauthorized alterations. While these systems comply with
regulations and have proven reliable, they lack the robustness of newer technologies
like blockchain. This highlights a research gap in exploring how blockchain
technology can enhance the integrity and security of EHR systems.
Alonso et al.[3] propose the PBE-DA protocol to enhance privacy and security in
EHR systems through blockchain technology. Their focus on anonymous patient
access to sensitive data suggests a research gap in developing protocols that can
efficiently manage patient anonymity while ensuring secure data access in EHR
systems.
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Abu-Elezz et al.[4] highlight the potential of blockchain technology in addressing
challenges within the healthcare industry, such as managing healthcare records and
improving data security. However, they also point out the complexity in technology
implementation and integration with existing systems, indicating a research gap in
developing strategies to overcome these challenges.
The literature survey suggests a research gap in exploring how blockchain technology
can enhance the security, privacy, and efficiency of EHR systems, as well as in
developing protocols and strategies to address the challenges associated with its
implementation and integration with existing healthcare IT infrastructures.
The predominant problem with traditional EHR systems is rooted in the critical
vulnerabilities of current centralized architectures, which are susceptible to a
spectrum of security threats. Centralized data repositories present a lucrative target for
cyber-attacks, often resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive medical data and
significant breaches of patient privacy. This systemic weakness not only endangers
the integrity of medical records but also undermines the trust patients place in
healthcare providers to protect their personal health information. The result is a
healthcare infrastructure that is constantly at risk, despite the crucial role these
systems play in contemporary medical practice.
The move towards integrating blockchain technology within EHR systems has been
met with its own set of challenges. Although blockchain offers a more secure,
decentralized approach to data management, promising a transformative impact on the
integrity and trustworthiness of health records, its practical application within the
healthcare sector has been fraught with technical difficulties. Performance issues such
as increased latency, alongside the complexities of aligning blockchain's novel
infrastructure with existing healthcare IT ecosystems, pose significant barriers. Such
integration challenges exacerbate the difficulty of ensuring seamless operation and
user-friendly experience within these systems. The overarching problem, therefore, is
not only the security flaws of current EHR systems but also the impediments to the
adoption of blockchain technology, which, if overcome, could herald a new era of
secure and efficient health data management.
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3.3 Aim & Objective:
Aim:
The aim of the project is to develop an Electronic Health Records (EHR) system that
is both secure and efficient, leveraging the capabilities of blockchain technology. The
primary focus is to construct a system that not only fortifies the security of sensitive
patient data but also streamlines the process, making it more efficient for healthcare
providers and patients alike. The aim is to address the vulnerabilities of existing EHR
systems head-on by integrating the inherent security features of blockchain, such as
encryption and decentralization, to ensure that patient records are both impervious to
unauthorized access and easily verifiable for authenticity. Additionally, the system
aims to be scalable, capable of adapting to the ever-growing demands of the
healthcare industry, and ensuring that patient care is bolstered by reliable, secure
access to medical records. This project seeks to set a new standard for how health
information is stored, accessed, and utilized, with the ultimate goal of improving
patient outcomes and care delivery.
Objectives:
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breaches and unauthorized access. By utilizing blockchain's decentralized
nature and cryptographic security measures, the system will protect sensitive
patient information and maintain high standards of data security.
● To Investigate the Potential of AI Integration: Explore the integration of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the EHR system to determine how AI can
enhance healthcare services. This objective focuses on harnessing AI's
potential to streamline data analysis, improve diagnostic accuracy, and
personalize patient care, all while maintaining strict compliance with privacy
regulations.
● To Ensure Data Consistency for third-party organizations: Utilize
blockchain technology to ensure the consistency and accuracy of medical
records across various platforms, making the data reliable for third-party
organizations, such as medical insurance providers. This consistent and
verifiable data will be instrumental in detecting and preventing medical fraud,
thereby safeguarding the financial aspects of healthcare management and
contributing to the overall trust in the healthcare system.
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Chapter 4
Proposed System
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Figure 4.1.1: General Framework of the Proposed System
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Together, these elements form a cohesive and comprehensive architecture that not
only meets the contemporary demands of healthcare data security but also lays the
groundwork for advanced applications such as insurance fraud detection and seamless
third-party access.
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Figure 4.2.1.1: UML Class Diagram
The UML class diagram above illustrates the structure and relationships within a
blockchain-based Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
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● Electronic Health Record (EHR): A digital record that stores comprehensive
medical data about a patient, which can be accessed and managed by
authorized doctors.
● Blockchain: The underlying secure structure that stores EHR data across a
network of computers, ensuring data integrity and decentralization through a
series of linked records or 'blocks'.
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Figure 4.2.1.2: UML Use case diagram
The UML use case diagram illustrates the following functionalities and interactions
within the EHR system using blockchain technology:
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Figure 4.2.1.3: UML Component diagram
EHR Database: This is the central repository where Electronic Health Records are
stored. It is the core component that other parts of the system depend on for retrieving
and storing patient data.
Blockchain Component: This critical component ensures the security and integrity of
the EHR system. It uses blockchain technology to create an immutable ledger for the
EHR data, thereby enabling secure transactions and storage.
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Interfaces:
● iPatient: Interface for patient interactions with the EHR system, likely for
viewing records or managing their information.
● iHospital: Interface for the hospital's administrative functions within the
system.
● iDoctor: Interface for doctors to access and manage patient records as per their
role and permissions.
● iEHR: The interface through which the system interacts with the EHR
database.
● iBlockchain: Interface that outlines the methods and protocols for interacting
with the blockchain component, such as adding new blocks or verifying the
chain's integrity.
The Gantt chart for Semester 7 visually outline the timelines for the project, Semester
7's chart extends from July to December, covering critical phases such as researching
blockchain applications in healthcare, analyzing existing EHR systems, and
developing prototype components for a blockchain-based EHR system. Each task is
clearly delineated with defined start and end dates, facilitating a structured approach
through the research and initial development stages.
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Figure 4.2.2.2: Gantt chart Semester 8
For Semester 8, the Gantt chart details the development and implementation stage of
the EHR project. It kicks off with the construction of the blockchain EHR system. A
pivotal segment is the pilot testing with simulated data, which is crucial for evaluating
system performance in a controlled environment. The project culminates in a
thorough system testing phase, ensuring reliability and efficiency, before proceeding
to the final documentation and project report submission.
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Chapter 5
Experimental Setup
The project will rely on a secure and scalable database to manage the Electronic
Health Records (EHR) data. The database will include the following datasets and
elements:
● EHR Data: This dataset will encompass patient medical records, including
vital signs, diagnosis information, treatment history, medication records, and
other relevant healthcare data. The data will be structured and organized for
efficient storage and retrieval.
● Access Control Records: A separate dataset will store access control records,
including information about which doctors have access to specific patient
records and the associated permissions. These records will be managed
through smart contracts on the blockchain.
Average time taken for a transaction (such as data entry, update, or retrieval) to
be recorded on the blockchain. Response time for data requests from the
system.
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5.2.3 Scalability
Software Requirements-
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Chapter 6
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fig 6.2 Hospital tracking all appointments of patients and Doctor
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fig 6.4 new doctor added successfully by hospital
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fig 6.6 Doctor dashboard
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fig 6.8 Doctor consulting patient online
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fig 6.10 Patient Dashboard
Chapter 7
Conclusion
The project exploring the integration of blockchain technology with Electronic Health
data integrity, crucial for patient safety and trust. Blockchain’s decentralized and
cryptographic nature ensures that data is immutable and secure, enhancing privacy
through mechanisms that allow only authorized access via private keys, and
challenges like scalability, energy consumption, and initial implementation costs, the
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project suggested mitigation strategies including permissioned blockchains and hybrid
models. It also considered regulatory compliance with standards such as HIPAA and
technologies and strategies through pilot programs and collaboration with tech
healthcare data management with its robust security features and efficiency
improvements.
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Publications:
Competitions Participated
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