Towards Blockchain-Based Secure Data Management for Remote Patient Monitoring

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of blockchain technology, specifically Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric, to enhance the security and reliability of remote patient monitoring and electronic health record management.

Contribution

It introduces a blockchain-based system architecture for EHR data management and discusses its potential, challenges, and initial evaluation results.

Findings

Blockchain can improve EHR security and integrity.

Ethereum-based architecture shows promising initial results.

Identifies challenges and future research directions in blockchain healthcare applications.

Abstract

Traditional data collection, storage and processing of Electronic Health Records (EHR) utilize centralized techniques that pose several risks of single point of failure and lean the systems to a number of internal and external data breaches that compromise their reliability and availability. Blockchain is an emerging distributed technology that can solve these issues due to its immutability and architectural nature that prevent records manipulation or alterations. In this paper, we discuss the progress and opportunities of remote patient monitoring using futuristic blockchain technologies and its two primary frameworks: Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric. We also discuss the possible blockchain use cases in software engineering for systematic, disciplined, and quantifiable application development. The study extends by introducing a system architecture for EHR data management using Ethereum as a model. We discuss the challenges and limitations along with the initial evaluation results of the proposed system and draw future research directions in this promising area.