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The Role of Blockchain Technology in Ensuring Security and Immutability of Open Data in Healthcare

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Blockchain and Applications, 5th International Congress (BLOCKCHAIN 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 778))

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Abstract

Clinical information is highly confidential due to its sensitive nature. Implementing health information systems has raised concerns regarding interoperability, privacy, and security. The storage and retrieval of this information also present the same problems. Therefore, any effort to introduce healthcare information systems must ensure patient data’s safety, privacy, integrity, and immutability. Blockchain technology and the openEHR open data model have emerged to address these concerns, providing a solution that guarantees data security, interoperability between systems, and the accuracy of stored data queries. Two different architectures were developed and subjected to several performance tests to enhance security and immutability in open data models implemented in healthcare institutions. The results were analysed to determine which architecture provides more value to a healthcare institution. Subsequently, a discussion was held to draw appropriate conclusions.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Algoritmi Reasarch Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Azurém Campus, 4800-05, Guimarães, Portugal

    Tiago Guimarães, Ricardo Duarte, João Cunha, Pedro Silva & Manuel Filipe Santos

Authors
  1. Tiago Guimarães
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  2. Ricardo Duarte
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  3. João Cunha
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  4. Pedro Silva
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  5. Manuel Filipe Santos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tiago Guimarães .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

    José Manuel Machado

  2. BISITE research group, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Javier Prieto

  3. Guarda Polytechnic Institute, Guarda, Portugal

    Paulo Vieira

  4. Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Hugo Peixoto

  5. Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

    António Abelha

  6. Científicas, ITEFI, Instituto de Física Aplicada, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones, Madrid, Spain

    David Arroyo

  7. Pappelallee, IOTA Foundation, Berlin, Germany

    Luigi Vigneri

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Guimarães, T., Duarte, R., Cunha, J., Silva, P., Santos, M.F. (2023). The Role of Blockchain Technology in Ensuring Security and Immutability of Open Data in Healthcare. In: Machado, J.M., et al. Blockchain and Applications, 5th International Congress. BLOCKCHAIN 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 778. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45155-3_32

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