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Embedding a Hiding Function in a Portable Electronic Health Record for Privacy Preservation

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a method to hide information in a portable electronic health record (PEHR). In compliance with HIPAA guidelines, a hiding function for personal identifiers in a PEHR was implemented by recognizing and hiding techniques. The method emphasizes the feasibility of embedding a hiding function in a PEHR. The hiding function could be executed to hide identifiers in offline mode. The present study showed that embedding the hiding function in a PEHR is a practical way not only satisfies data confidentiability needs, but also meets patient’s personal privacy requirements. The effects of executing the hiding function would be the same as through de-identification or anonymization process.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC 95-2221-E010-003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong Street, Beitou, Taipei, 112, Taiwan

    Lu-Chou Huang, Chung-Yueh Lien & Tsair Kao

  2. Department of Information Management, Hua-Fan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Lu-Chou Huang & Huei-Chung Chu

  3. Department of Medical Informatics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Taiwan

    Chia-Hung Hsiao

Authors
  1. Lu-Chou Huang
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  2. Huei-Chung Chu
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  3. Chung-Yueh Lien
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  4. Chia-Hung Hsiao
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  5. Tsair Kao
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Correspondence to Tsair Kao.

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Huang, LC., Chu, HC., Lien, CY. et al. Embedding a Hiding Function in a Portable Electronic Health Record for Privacy Preservation. J Med Syst 34, 313–320 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-008-9243-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-008-9243-8

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