Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121421
Title: Electronic health records and beyond : a blockchain in healthcare review
Authors: Cassar, Nicole Marie (2022)
Keywords: Medical records -- Data processing
Medical care
Blockchains (Databases)
Smart contracts
Issue Date: 2022
Citation: Cassar, N. M. (2022). Electronic health records and beyond: a blockchain in healthcare review (Master’s dissertation).
Abstract: The healthcare industry has undergone a radical transformation, shifting from paper-based procedures to electronic methods and Blockchain-based solutions. Given the technological advancements, a standardised, patient-centric healthcare mechanism has not yet been established. The current healthcare systems impose several constraints on data sharing, data access, and privacy concerns. Blockchain technology presents itself as a promising solution for leveraging these limitations. The current state of play is that Electronic Health Records are the most studied blockchain-enabled healthcare applications. Studies show that due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, research in Blockchain in healthcare has substantially increased, with nascent applications of Contact Tracing, Remote Patient Monitoring and Digital Health Passports. This dissertation closely reviews implementing Blockchain technologies within said healthcare applications by analysing aspects of data sharing, access control, data management, and privacy and security. To thoroughly analyse the current healthcare blockchain-based solutions, the value of smart contracts and accessibility types of blockchain were evaluated. The utility of the integration of other ground-breaking technologies was also assessed. Through comprehensive secondary research, this study evaluated a random sample of 32 published papers, which were selected according to pre-defined criteria. This review establishes that, in most studies, privacy, security and access control are addressed. Smart contracts are generally utilised for this purpose; however, many smart contract adoptions address the need for patient ownership, data validation and user authorisation. Permissioned platforms are the most used within EHR applications, honing further on the notion of establishing patient-centred Blockchain systems. This analysis also indicates that through various cryptographic primitives and the deployment of key management, blockchain platforms are intended to address privacy and security concerns. However, some studies deploy other mechanisms such as dynamic consent. The deployment of off-chain databases, cloud solutions, and IPFS have been carefully analysed within such studies and identified as possible solutions to Blockchain’s scalability limitation.
Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121421
Appears in Collections:Dissertations - CenDLT - 2022

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