Application of Blockchain in E-Healthcare Systems

2022 ◽  
pp. 239-260
Author(s):  
Aman Ahmad Ansari ◽  
Bharavi Mishra ◽  
Poonam Gera
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Private Information ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Secure Storage ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Day Services

The e-healthcare system maintains sensitive and private information about patients. In any e-healthcare system, exchanging health information is often required, making privacy and security a primary concern for e-healthcare systems. Another major issue is that existing e-healthcare systems use centralized servers. These centralized servers require high infrastructure and maintenance costs for day-to-day services. Along with that, server failure may affect the working of e-healthcare systems drastically and may create life-threatening situations for patients. Blockchain technology is a very useful way to provide decentralized, secure storage for healthcare information. A blockchain is a time-stamped series of immutable records of data that is managed by a cluster of computers not owned by any single entity. These blocks create a chain of immutable, tamper-proof blocks in a ledger. This chapter will discuss the different aspects of blockchain and its application in different fields of the e-healthcare system.

scholarly journals MedShard: Electronic Health Record Sharing Using Blockchain Sharding

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5889
Author(s):  
Faiza Hashim ◽  
Khaled Shuaib ◽  
Farag Sallabi
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
Network Performance ◽  
Communication Overhead ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Electronic Health

Electronic health records (EHRs) are important assets of the healthcare system and should be shared among medical practitioners to improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis. Blockchain technology has been investigated and adopted in healthcare as a solution for EHR sharing while preserving privacy and security. Blockchain can revolutionize the healthcare system by providing a decentralized, distributed, immutable, and secure architecture. However, scalability has always been a bottleneck in blockchain networks due to the consensus mechanism and ledger replication to all network participants. Sharding helps address this issue by artificially partitioning the network into small groups termed shards and processing transactions parallelly while running consensus within each shard with a subset of blockchain nodes. Although this technique helps resolve issues related to scalability, cross-shard communication overhead can degrade network performance. This study proposes a transaction-based sharding technique wherein shards are formed on the basis of a patient’s previously visited health entities. Simulation results show that the proposed technique outperforms standard-based healthcare blockchain techniques in terms of the number of appointments processed, consensus latency, and throughput. The proposed technique eliminates cross-shard communication by forming complete shards based on “the need to participate” nodes per patient.

scholarly journals Implementation of Fog computing in IoT-based healthcare system

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Maksimović
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fog Computing ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Healthcare Applications ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Main Challenge

Nowhere do the technology advancements bring improvements than in the healthcare sector, constantly creating new healthcare applications and systems which completely revolutionize the healthcare domain. The appearance of Internet of Things (IoT) based healthcare systems has immensely improved quality and delivery of care, and significantly reduced the costs. At the same time, these systems generate the enormous amount of health-associated data which has to be properly gathered, analyzed and shared. The smart devices, as the components of IoT-driven healthcare systems, are not able to deal with IoT-produced data, neither data posting to the Cloud is the appropriate solution. To overcome smart devices’ and Cloud’s limitations the new paradigm, known as Fog computing, has appeared, where an additional layer processes the data and sends the results to the Cloud. Despite numerous benefits Fog computing brings into IoT-based environments, the privacy and security issues remain the main challenge for its implementation. The reasons for integrating the IoT-based healthcare system and Fog computing, benefits and challenges, as well as the proposition of simple low-cost system are presented in this paper.

Building an IPFS and Blockchain-Based Decentralized Storage Model for Medical Imaging

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-40
Author(s):  
Randhir Kumar ◽  
Rakesh Tripathi
Keyword(s):  
Medical Imaging ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Medical Image ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Storage Model ◽  
Image Sharing ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Real Time Application

Currently, sharing and access of medical imaging is a significant element of present healthcare systems, but the existing infrastructure of medical image sharing depends on third-party approval. In this chapter, the authors have proposed a framework in order to provide a decentralized storage model for medical image sharing through IPFS and blockchain technology that remove the hurdle of third-party dependency. In the proposed model, the authors are sharing the imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) medical images, which consist of various information related to disease, and hence, the framework can be utilized in the real-time application of the healthcare system. Moreover, the framework maintains the feature of immutability, privacy, and availability of information owing to the blockchain-based decentralized storage model. Furthermore, the authors have also discussed how the information can be accessed by the peers in the blockchain network with the help of consensus. To implement the framework, they have used the python ask and anaconda python.

Developing a Model to Highlight the Relation of Digital Trust With Privacy and Security for the Blockchain Technology

2021 ◽  
pp. 110-125
Author(s):  
Subhodeep Mukherjee ◽  
Venkataiah Chittipaka ◽  
Manish Mohan Baral
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Software Firms ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Revenue Models ◽  
The Impact

Digitalization uses digital technology to change a business model and provide new revenue models and value-producing opportunities. Blockchain is a type of database that stores various kinds of information in blocks that form a chain of information. It is one of the secured ways of transferring and storage of data. Blockchain is helping in creating trust for digitalization among its users. This research aims to study the impact of trust in blockchain by analyzing the privacy and security concerns that can impact the user attitude and its intention to the adoption process. For this structure, literature review is performed. Five variables are used, and they are attitude, privacy, trust, security, and intention. A questionnaire is developed for survey-based research in the software firms, banking sector, and digital marketing companies. For analysis, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling are used. A model is developed that shows a good fit, and the parameters are satisfied.

Incorporating Human Factors Into a Healthcare System’s COVID-19 Communication Strategy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-179
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Butler ◽  
Ann Katherine Hoobler ◽  
Lucy C. Stein ◽  
Erica S. Hoenig ◽  
Laura M. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
User Feedback ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Successful Communication

The COVID-19 era has been an age of change for healthcare systems worldwide. At the beginning of the pandemic in particular, there was a huge need to rapidly communicate new and constantly changing information with critical safety implications. Previously successful communication strategies were not adequate for this unprecedented challenge. At MedStar Health, the Quality & Safety team led a unique partnership between human factors experts, clinical teams, and the communications department to develop a three-pronged strategy for effective communication during the pandemic. This strategy incorporated the following components: 1) Using human factors and usability concepts to distill complex clinical information into easy-to-understand infographics for frontline associates; 2) Creating regular, succinct messaging to distribute the information and provide frequent updates throughout the healthcare system; and 3) Designing and maintaining a usable webpage where associates could access up-to-date information relevant to their specialty at any time, on or off the hospital network. This strategy, which was dynamic and adapted to user feedback, was supported by associates as a streamlined method for communicating important information throughout the pandemic.

scholarly journals Rise, Fall, and Recovery of Blockchains in the Maritime Technology Space

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Ziaul Haque Munim ◽  
Okan Duru ◽  
Enna Hirata
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Approach ◽  
The Other ◽  
Privacy Management ◽  
Maritime Industry ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Maritime Literature ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Antitrust Laws ◽  
Maritime Technology

Blockchain technology, since its introduction, has been expected to be implemented in many areas. Cryptocurrency is one unique example that established a functioning application. On the other hand, blockchain technology is not immune to various challenges related to the nature of itself, privacy management, and antitrust laws, among others. This study lays out the nature of blockchain and applications in the maritime industry, while highlighting the bottlenecks. Potential resolutions and anticipated developments are proposed. To do this, we adopt a systematic approach and present an overview of blockchain in maritime literature. In addition, the fundamental problems with blockchain are investigated, beginning from their essentials to the pain points that are claimed to need improvement. For establishing a legitimate and practically meaningful blockchain platform, stakeholders need to achieve pluralism (consensus validation), privacy, and security of the system.

scholarly journals Using Blockchain Technology to Foster Collaboration among Shippers and Carriers in the Trucking Industry: A Design Science Research Approach

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Serkan Alacam ◽  
Asli Sencer
Keyword(s):  
Private Information ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Trucking Industry ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Storage Solutions ◽  
Sustainability Problems ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Industry Professionals

In the global trucking industry, vertical collaboration between shippers and carriers is attained by intermediaries, called brokers. Brokers organize carriers for a shipper in accordance with its quality and price requirements, and support carriers to collaborate horizontally by sharing a large distribution order from a shipper. Brokers also act as trustees, preventing the passing of private information of any party to the others. Despite these benefits, intermediaries in the trucking industry are involved in several sustainability problems, including high costs, high levels of carbon emissions, high percentages of empty miles, low-capacity utilizations, and driver shortages. Several studies have acknowledged the importance of improving collaboration to address these problems. Obviously, the major concern of brokers is not collaboration, but rather to optimize their own gains. This paper investigates the potential of blockchain technology to improve collaboration in the trucking industry, by eliminating brokers while preserving their responsibilities as organizers and trustees. This paper extends the transportation control tower concept from the logistics literature, and presents a system architecture for its implementation through smart contracts on a blockchain network. In the proposed system, the scalability and privacy of trucking operations are ensured through integration with privacy-preserving off-chain computation and storage solutions (running outside of the blockchain). The potential of this design artifact for fostering collaboration in the trucking industry was evaluated by both blockchain technology experts and trucking industry professionals.

scholarly journals 'I just hope they take it seriously': homeless men talk about their health care

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 748
Author(s):  
Nancy Sturman ◽  
Don Matheson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health System ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Homeless Men ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Care Fragmentation

ObjectiveMen who experience homelessness in Australia often have complex health and social issues, including the trimorbidity of concurrent mental illness, substance use disorders and physical health conditions. These men tend to have poor health outcomes, and present challenges to healthcare systems. To improve system responsiveness and patient outcomes, the perspectives of marginalised groups need to be understood. MethodsFive focus groups were conducted with 20 men in a homeless men’s hostel, exploring their experiences of seeking and receiving health care, and views about improving these. An inductive thematic analysis was undertaken. ResultsSeveral participants expressed gratitude for care provided for life-threatening physical illness and trauma. However, negative experiences of health system responses were more frequently reported. Four emerging themes all made securing effective ‘tickets of entry’ to health care more difficult: dismissive care, care fragmentation, inconsistent medical management of pain and inadequate acknowledgement of psychological distress. ConclusionsImprovements are needed in care integration and the de-escalation of potentially confrontational interactions. Effective, safe and compassionate system responses to presentations of psychological distress and pain should be collaboratively developed. Some current responses may entrench stigma, further traumatising vulnerable patients. What is known about the topic?Men who experience homelessness have poor health outcomes and present challenges to healthcare systems. What does this paper add?This paper describes healthcare experiences and insights of men who are experiencing homelessness in Australia. These men reported experiencing dismissive care, care fragmentation, inconsistent, inadequate and/or unsafe prescribing for pain and inconsistent and/or ineffective responses to psychological distress. What are the implications for practitioners?Changes are needed in health system responses, informed by the experiences and insights of marginalised people, to break cycles of trauma and exclusion.

scholarly journals IoT-CCAC: a blockchain-based consortium capability access control approach for IoT

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e455
Author(s):  
Mohammed Amine Bouras ◽  
Boming Xia ◽  
Adnan Omer Abuassba ◽  
Huansheng Ning ◽  
Qinghua Lu
Keyword(s):  
Access Control ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Control Schemes ◽  
Common Goals ◽  
Intrinsic Feature

Access control is a critical aspect for improving the privacy and security of IoT systems. A consortium is a public or private association or a group of two or more institutes, businesses, and companies that collaborate to achieve common goals or form a resource pool to enable the sharing economy aspect. However, most access control methods are based on centralized solutions, which may lead to problems like data leakage and single-point failure. Blockchain technology has its intrinsic feature of distribution, which can be used to tackle the centralized problem of traditional access control schemes. Nevertheless, blockchain itself comes with certain limitations like the lack of scalability and poor performance. To bridge the gap of these problems, here we present a decentralized capability-based access control architecture designed for IoT consortium networks named IoT-CCAC. A blockchain-based database is utilized in our solution for better performance since it exhibits favorable features of both blockchain and conventional databases. The performance of IoT-CCAC is evaluated to demonstrate the superiority of our proposed architecture. IoT-CCAC is a secure, salable, effective solution that meets the enterprise and business’s needs and adaptable for different IoT interoperability scenarios.

scholarly journals Blockchain for healthcare records: A data perspective

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mian Zhang ◽  
Yuhong Ji
Keyword(s):  
Data Privacy ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Healthcare Data ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Security Control ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Insight Into

A problem facing healthcare record systems throughout the world is how to share the medical data with more stakeholders for various purposes without sacrificing data privacy and integrity. Blockchain, operating in a state of consensus, is the underpinning technology that maintains the Bitcoin transaction ledger. Blockchain as a promising technology to manage the transactions has been gaining popularity in the domain of healthcare. Blockchain technology has the potential of securely, privately, and comprehensively manage patient health records. In this work, we discuss the latest status of blockchain technology and how it could solve the current issues in healthcare systems. We evaluate the blockchain technology from the multiple perspectives around healthcare data, including privacy, security, control, and storage. We review the current projects and researches of blockchain in the domain of healthcare records and provide the insight into the design and construction of next generations of blockchain-based healthcare systems.

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