Security infrastructure services for electronic archives and electronic health records

Area of Science:

• Information Security
• Health Informatics
• Digital Trust Services

Background:

• Healthcare communication necessitates robust security services.
• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Trusted Third Parties (TTPs) are crucial for secure data exchange.
• Dynamic aspects like time, location, and workflow require trustworthy information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify mechanisms for securing data items, files, messages, and electronic health records (EHR).
• To address the need for secure patient information storage and access tools.
• To highlight the importance of digital signatures and time stamps for data integrity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of security service requirements for healthcare communication.
• Identification of mechanisms for securing various data entities and structures.
• Review of legal, social, behavioural, and ethical demands on data security.

Main Results:

• PKI and TTPs are foundational for secure healthcare communication and co-operation.
• Digital signatures and certified time stamps are vital for EHR integrity and archival.
• Mechanisms are identified for securing data items, files, messages, and electronic archive structures.

Conclusions:

• Securely stored patient information and well-established access tools are essential.
• Life-long electronic health records require secure mechanisms for data integrity and retrieval.
• The study emphasizes the critical role of PKI, digital signatures, and time stamps in healthcare data security.