A Blockchain Based Electronic Health Record Management System with PoA Consensus

Abstract

The increasing need for secure and efficient Electronic Health Record (EHR) management systems has led to the exploration of innovative solutions. This paper presents a novel EHR management system (EHRMS) that leverages blockchain technology to warrant data security, transparency, and efficient data retrieval while empowering patients to have complete control over their medical history. The proposed system utilizes a permissioned blockchain network with a Proof of Authority (PoA) consensus mechanism, ensuring that only trusted entities participate in the network. This enhances the overall security and integrity of the EHR data stored in the system. Efficiency in data retrieval is achieved through the use of smart contracts. These contracts enable seamless and rapid access to patient records while maintaining data integrity. Furthermore, patients can access their records at any time, eliminating the need for cumbersome record transfers and reducing administrative overhead. Data security is paramount in healthcare, and this system addresses this concern by employing Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) techniques to encrypt patient data stored in the cloud. This ensures that even in the unlikely event of a security breach, patient information remains confidential and protected. To maintain transparency and data provenance, the system integrates blockchain technology by storing reference links to the encrypted patient data stored in the cloud. This reference link is immutable, providing a tamper-proof audit trail of data access and modifications.