scholarly journals Improving the Healthcare Effectiveness: The Possible Role of EHR, IoMT and Blockchain

Electronics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Girardi ◽  
Gaetano De Gennaro ◽  
Lucio Colizzi ◽  
Nicola Convertini

New types of patient health records aim to help physicians shift from a medical practice, often based on their personal experience, towards one of evidence based medicine, thus improving the communication among patients and care providers and increasing the availability of personal medical information. These new records, allowing patients and care providers to share medical data and clinical information, and access them whenever they need, can be considered enabling Ambient Assisted Living technologies. Furthermore, new personal disease monitoring tools support specialists in their tasks, as an example allowing acquisition, transmission and analysis of medical images. The growing interest around these new technologies poses serious questions regarding data integrity and transaction security. The huge amount of sensitive data stored in these new records surely attracts the interest of malicious hackers, therefore it is necessary to guarantee the integrity and the maximum security of servers and transactions. Blockchain technology can be an important turning point in the development of personal health records. This paper discusses some issues regarding the management and protection of health data exchanged through new medical or diagnostic devices.

Author(s):  
Ashish D Patel ◽  
Jigarkumar H. Shah

The aged population of the world is increasing by a large factor due to the availability of medical and other facilities. As the number grows rapidly, requirements of this segment of age (65+) are increasing rapidly as well as the percentage of aged persons living alone is also increasing with the same rate due to the inevitable socio-economic changes. This situation demands the solution of many problems like loneliness, chronic conditions, social interaction, transportation, day-to-day life and many more for independent living person. A large part of aged population may not be able to interact directly with new technologies. This sought some serious development towards the use of intelligent systems i.e. smart devices which helps the people with their inability to use the available as well future solutions. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is the answer to these problems. In this paper, issues related to AAL systems are studied. Study of challenges and limitations of this comparatively new field will help the designers to remove the barriers of AAL systems.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 473
Author(s):  
Henry Ogoe ◽  
Odame Agyapong ◽  
Fredrick Troas Lutterodt

Individuals tend to receive medical care from different health care providers as they drift from one location to another. Oftentimes, multiple providers operate disparate systems of managing patients medical records. These disparate systems, which are unable to share and/or exchange information, have the propensity to create fragmentation of care, which poses a serious threat to the realization of continuity of care in the Ghanaian health care delivery. Continuity of care, which is the ability to seamlessly access, update, and manage patients medical information as they visit multiple providers, is a crucial component of quality of care in any health delivery system. The current system of managing patients records in Ghanapaper-basedmakes continuity of care difficult to actualize. To this end, we have developed a smartcard based personal health records system, SMART-MED, which can effectively promote continuity of care in Ghana. SMART-MED is platform-independent; it can run as standalone or configured to plug into any Java-based electronic medical record system. Results of a lab simulation test suggest that it can effectively promote continuity of care through improved data security, support interoperability for disparate systems, and seamless access and update of patients health records. Keywords: Continuity of Care, Fragmentation of Care, Interoperability, Personal Health Records, Smartcard.


Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 512
Author(s):  
William Connor Horne ◽  
Zina Ben Miled

Improved health care services can benefit from a more seamless exchange of medical information between patients and health care providers. This exchange is especially important considering the increasing trends in mobility, comorbidity and outbreaks. However, current Electronic Health Records (EHR) tend to be institution-centric, often leaving the medical information of the patient fragmented and more importantly inaccessible to the patient for sharing with other health providers in a timely manner. Nearly a decade ago, several client–server models for personal health records (PHR) were proposed. The aim of these previous PHRs was to address data fragmentation issues. However, these models were not widely adopted by patients. This paper discusses the need for a new PHR model that can enhance the patient experience by making medical services more accessible. The aims of the proposed model are to (1) help patients maintain a complete lifelong health record, (2) facilitate timely communication and data sharing with health care providers from multiple institutions and (3) promote integration with advanced third-party services (e.g., risk prediction for chronic diseases) that require access to the patient’s health data. The proposed model is based on a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network as opposed to the client–server architecture of the previous PHR models. This architecture consists of a central index server that manages the network and acts as a mediator, a peer client for patients and providers that allows them to manage health records and connect to the network, and a service client that enables third-party providers to offer services to the patients. This distributed architecture is essential since it promotes ownership of the health record by the patient instead of the health care institution. Moreover, it allows the patient to subscribe to an extended range of personalized e-health services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kyazze ◽  
Janet Wesson ◽  
Kevin Naudé

Background: Individuals with disabilities experience difficulty in using various everyday technologies such as computers and smartphones.Objectives: To propose a conceptual framework that will lead to the development of practical and user friendly assistive technology.Method: A literature review of challenges faced by individuals with physical disabilities was carried out. Interviews with adults with physical disabilities in Kampala, Uganda, and Port Elizabeth, South Africa, identified three main challenges with regard to using technology: using a mobile phone, controlling an electronic environment and using a computer.Results: The challenges identified can be solved by taking into consideration the needs of individuals with disabilities. However, the design of new technologies and interaction techniques, such as natural hand gestures and voice, as input mechanisms has able-bodied individuals in mind. Individuals with disabilities are considered as an afterthought. The main reason for this is that individuals with a disability are a minority and hence it may not make economic sense for technology innovators to cater for their unique needs. A lack of practical guidelines on how to design for individuals with disabilities is another reason why designing for individuals with disabilities is often an afterthought.Conclusion: This article proposes a conceptual framework that can be used by researchers and technology designers in order to design products that could cater for the unique needs of individuals with disabilities. The article also emphasises the importance of exploring alternative interaction techniques, as they could enable individuals with disabilities to fully utilise technologies such as smart phones, computers and smart home electronics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Moreno ◽  
G. Bastidas ◽  
P. Moreno

El avance de las tecnologías de la información ha permitido un cambio sustancial en el desarrollo de la Salud, por lo que el uso de estándares de telemedicina como el HL7 y CEN TC 251-13606 permiten que los sistemas de información médica se comuniquen vía mensajes estandarizados facilitando el uso de los mismos. El propósito de este estudio es crear una guía metodológica de intercambio electrónico de información clínica basada en el análisis de los estándares de telemedicina HL7 y CEN TC 251- 13606 para mejorar la eficiencia de la gestión de Historias Clínicas de los pacientes. La metodología consta de 2 fases, la primera plantea el diseño e implementación del modelo de referencia de la Historia Clínica Electrónica, el mismo que define entidades necesarias en la construcción de una Historia Clínica Electrónica, en la fase 2 se define la arquitectura de la historia clínica especificando la estructura y semántica del documento mediante el lenguaje XML, el cual se utiliza en los procesos de gestión de las historias clínicas electrónicas dentro del sistema médico desarrollado. Este sistema permite control clínico a distancia facilitando la interacción médico-paciente. El sistema posee una aplicación web, una aplicación de escritorio y una plataforma hardware e- Salud. La aplicación de la metodología planteada mejora la eficiencia de la gestión de historias clínicas, puesto que el 83.32% de los médicos de la clínica consideran que se agiliza el proceso de acceso, creación e ingreso de historias clínicas y reduce recursos en el proceso de control de pacientes domiciliarios. The advance of Information and Communication Technologies has improved Health Care in last years; by providing new ways of accessing medical information. In particular, the use of telemedicine standards such as HL7 and CENTC 251-13606 allows standard communication, integration, and retrieval of electronic health records among medical systems. This article aims to create a methodological guide for the electronic exchange of clinical information based on telemedicine standards in order to improve the efficiency of electronic health records management. The proposed methodology consists of two phases: The first one states the design and implementation of the reference model of an electronic health records, which defines entities of the electronic health record. In phase 2, this methodology describes electronic health records architecture. The architecture is defined by the structure and semantics of the document using XML. In order to test the proposed methodology, a medical system was implemented that consists of a web application, desktop application, and hardware platform e- Health. This system allows the electronic exchange of clinical information to ease patient-doctor interaction. The results show 83,32% of doctors at the clinic where the system was tested agree the proposed methodology for electronic exchange improves the efficiency of electronic health records management since it speeds up the process of creation and retrieval of an electronic health records. Moreover, the system reduces resources in the control of home patients. Palabras clave: Telemedicina, HCE, HL7, CENTC 251-13606, e-Salud. Keywords: Telemedicine, EHR, HL7, CENTC 251-13606, e-Health.


Archeion ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Stępień

W artykule przedstawiono możliwości zastosowania technologii sztucznej inteligencji oraz blockchain w działalności archiwalnej. Przedmiotem analizy były wyniki projektów badawczych realizowanych w ostatnich latach z udziałem zagranicznych archiwów. Tekst artykułu powstał w oparciu o przegląd anglojęzycznej literatury przedmiotu. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na informacje zawarte w raportach i sprawozdaniach z badań poświęconych problematyce wykorzystania nowych technologii na gruncie archiwalnym. Przedstawione w artykule przykłady dowodzą, że sztuczna inteligencja i blockchain znajdują zastosowanie w różnych obszarach działalności współczesnych archiwów. Technologie na nich oparte mają potencjał, aby zautomatyzować procesy wartościowania i selekcji dokumentacji elektronicznej oraz wspierać identyfikację danych wrażliwych zawartych w e-dokumentach. Innym polem ich zastosowania są systemy wyszukiwania i udostępniania materiałów archiwalnych w postaci cyfrowej, jak też platformy do rozpoznawania tekstu i struktury dokumentów historycznych. Blockchain, czyli technologia rozproszonego rejestru i łańcuchów blokowych, pozwala zachować integralność i autentyczność obiektów cyfrowego dziedzictwa archiwalnego. Possibilities of using artificial intelligence and blockchain in archival activities. Review of international experiences The article presents the possibilities of using artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in archival activity. The analysis covers results of research projects carried out in recent years with participation of foreign archives. The text of the article is based on a review of literature available in English. Particular attention was given to information contained in research reports devoted to application of new technologies in archival work. The examples presented in the article prove that artificial intelligence and blockchain are used in various areas of activity of modern archives. Technologies based on them have the potential to automate the processes of evaluation and selection of electronic documents and to support identification of sensitive data contained in e-documents. Another possible field of application for such technologies are the systems for searching and accessing archival materials in digital form, as well as platforms for recognition of text and structure of historical documents. Blockchain, or distributed ledger and blockchain technology, preserves the integrity and authenticity of digital archival heritage objects.


Author(s):  
Samuel O Bolarinde ◽  

Background of the study: Smartphones medically related applications are quickly becoming one of the main tools for accessing clinical information among health care professionals. Aim of Study: This study assessed the perception of patients on usage of smartphones by health care professionals during clinic hours. Methodology: The study recruited 185 patients. Data on demographic characteristics and perception of patients on the use of smartphones for medical information were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were summarized using a descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of Chi square. Alpha level was set at 0.005 Results: 76 Males, 109 Females participated in this study. 67.6% (125) own a smartphones. 34.6% (64) have seen health care professionals using smartphones during clinic hours, 28.1% (18) had their health care providers explain to them reasons for using smartphone. 34.1% (63) agreed it was unprofessional for health care provider to use smartphone during clinic, 33.5% (62) disagreed, 32.4% (60) were undecided. No association observed between respondents’ age (χ2= 12.00, p= 0.606), educational qualification (χ2= 8.501, p= 0.075) and responses to the statement that use of smartphones by health care professional was unprofessional. Conclusion: Although one third of the respondents agreed that usage of smartphones by healthcare professionals in the clinic while attending to patients was unprofessional however, usage of smartphone for health related information by health care professionals during clinic hours should be with caution to avoid losing the confidence repose in them by their patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 08020
Author(s):  
Vladimir Plotnikov ◽  
Lyudmila Vardomatskaya ◽  
Valentina Kuznetsova

The development of smart cities is based on the use of new technologies. One of these promising technologies is Blockchain. The use of Blockchain gives great opportunities for solving a complex of problems related to: ensuring energy efficiency in buildings, the introduction of sustainable energy technologies for megacities, the formation of eco-friendly settlements, etc. The article analyzes the possibilities of using Blockchain technology in the social sphere of the city. The analysis is carried out on the example of health and pharmaceuticals. The study was carried out in the framework of the institutional approach and the concept of economic opportunities. The objectives of the study were: to identify specific areas of use of Blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical and health care industries; to evaluate the role of this technology in ensuring compliance with medical standards, transparency and safety of drugs at all stages of their development, promotion and use; to determine the possibilities of technology in identifying more effective and high-quality treatment methods, their implementation in practical health care. The article presents the structure of the areas of pharmaceuticals and health care, where the Blockchain is used. The strategies are offered to reduce labour and energy costs for processing medical information, accelerating the creation of new treatment technologies and the creation of medicines, their implementation in practical health care..


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonggang Xiao ◽  
Yanbing Liu ◽  
Yunjun Wu ◽  
Tun Li ◽  
Xingping Xian ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The maintenance of accurate health records of patients is a requirement of health care professionals. Furthermore, these records should be shared across different health care organizations in order for professionals to have a complete review of medical history and avoid missing important information. Nowadays, health care providers use electronic health records (EHRs) as a key to accomplishment of these jobs and delivery of quality care. However, there are technical and legal hurdles that prevent the adoption of these systems, such as the concern about performance and privacy issues. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to build and evaluate an experimental blockchain for EHRs, named HealthChain, which addresses the disadvantages of traditional EHR systems. METHODS HealthChain is built based on consortium blockchain technology. Specifically, three stakeholders, namely hospitals, insurance providers, and governmental agencies, form a consortium that operates under a governance model, which enforces the business logic agreed by all participants. Peer nodes host instance of the distributed ledger consisting of EHRs, and instance of chaincode regulating the permissions of participants; designated orderers establish consensus on the order of EHRs and then disseminate blocks to peers. RESULTS HealthChain achieves the functional and non-functional requirements. While it can store EHRs in distributed ledger and share them among different participants, it demonstrates superior features, such as privacy preserving, security, and high throughout. These are the main reasons why HealthChain is proposed. CONCLUSIONS Consortium blockchain technology can help build EHR system and solve the problems that prevent the adoption of traditional ones.


Author(s):  
Panagiotis D. Bamidis ◽  
Evdokimos Konstantinidis ◽  
Antonis S. Billis ◽  
Anastasios Sioundas

Population ageing is an unprecedented challenge for human societies, which recently is globally tackled by new technologies. In this chapter technologies tailored for use by the elderly people termed ambient assisted living and e-health are discussed. Focus is only placed on those technologies that can be adapted for home use. Emphasis is drawn both on the technical front as well as on the application front based on recent literature. The scope is to make sure the audience reaches a sufficiently broad understanding of what technology is available for home use by elderly people. Applications and research efforts spent but also funded at the European level with a clear focus on those supported by elderly trials are provided. The chapter is enriched with case studies from various projects.


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