A hybrid blockchain-based solution for secure sharing of electronic medical record data

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Cybersecurity
• Distributed Ledger Technology

Background:

• Patient privacy and data security are critical in smart healthcare.
• Existing electronic medical record (EMR) sharing methods face challenges in security and privacy preservation.
• The proliferation of smart healthcare necessitates robust solutions for managing sensitive patient data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an innovative hybrid blockchain-based framework for secure EMR data sharing.
• To enhance patient privacy and data security in smart healthcare environments.
• To address limitations of traditional privacy protection schemes.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel tripartite blockchain architecture segregating data for patients, providers, and external sharing.
• Implemented a cross-chain signature algorithm based on Boneh-Lynn-Shacham (BLS) signature aggregation.
• Introduced an external sharing algorithm for privacy-preserving data access through a social blockchain.

Main Results:

• The tripartite blockchain architecture enhances security and transparency.
• The BLS-based cross-chain signature algorithm optimizes storage and strengthens security.
• The external sharing algorithm effectively breaks down medical data silos, enabling selective sharing.
• Security analyses and experiments confirm superior security, storage optimization, and flexibility.

Conclusions:

• The proposed hybrid blockchain framework offers a robust solution for secure EMR data sharing.
• This approach significantly improves patient data privacy and security in smart healthcare.
• The framework facilitates collaborative efforts and overcomes data silo challenges.