A secure interoperable method for electronic health records exchange on cross platform blockchain network.

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Health Informatics
• Blockchain Technology

Background:

• Electronic Health Records (EHRs) contain sensitive patient data requiring secure access and consent.
• Current EHR management systems often exist on disparate blockchain platforms, hindering interoperability.
• Secure cross-platform data exchange is crucial for modern healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel method for secure EHR exchange across different blockchain networks.
• To enhance patient privacy and enable a patient-centric approach to health record management.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of cross-chain EHR exchange using a hepatitis dataset.

Main Methods:

• Developed a hash lock-based interoperable cross-chain method for EHR exchange between Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric.
• Implemented a hybrid storage approach, partitioning EHR data between on-chain and off-chain InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) for enhanced security.
• Utilized Secure Password Authentication-Based Key Exchange (SPAKE) for secure session management during EHR exchange.

Main Results:

• Successfully validated a patient-centric method for secure EHR exchange across Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of the hash lock mechanism for cross-chain interoperability.
• Confirmed the enhanced security provided by the on-chain/off-chain data partitioning strategy.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method facilitates secure and interoperable EHR exchange across heterogeneous blockchain platforms.
• This approach significantly improves patient privacy and control over their health information.
• The validated system offers a robust solution for cross-chain healthcare data management.