Privacy-Conflict Resolution for Integrating Personal and Electronic Health Records in Blockchain-Based Systems

Abstract

Integrating personal health records (PHRs) and electronic health records (EHRs) facilitates the provision of novel services to individuals, researchers, and healthcare practitioners. Simultaneously, integrating healthcare data leads to complexities arising from the structural and semantic heterogeneity within the data. The subject of healthcare data evokes strong emotions due to concerns surrounding privacy breaches. Blockchain technology is employed to address the issue of patient data privacy in inter-organizational processes, as it facilitates patient data ownership and promotes transparency in its usage. At the same time, blockchain technology creates new challenges for e-healthcare systems, such as data privacy, observability, and online enforceability. This article proposes designing and formalizing automatic conflict resolution techniques in decentralized e-healthcare systems. The present study expounds upon our concepts by employing a running case study centered around preventive and personalized healthcare domains.

Plain language summary: This paper suggests using blockchain technology for privacy concerns in integrating personal health records and electronic health records in decentralized e-healthcare systems. This report focuses on designing automatic conflict resolution techniques to ensure patient data ownership, transparency, and privacy in inter-organizational processes. This paper proposes designing automatic conflict resolution techniques in decentralized e-healthcare systems, which can improve inter-organizational processes in healthcare. Using blockchain technology to integrate personal and electronic health records can ensure patient data ownership and promote transparency in data usage, addressing privacy concerns in healthcare systems. This paper emphasizes the importance of data privacy and protection in healthcare systems, highlighting the need for compliance with laws and regulations. The research results, including the proof-of-concept prototype, can provide practical insights into implementing conflict resolution techniques in decentralized e-healthcare systems.

Keywords: blockchain; conflict management; e-healthcare; preventive healthcare; privacy; smart contracts.

Fig. 1

Design Science Research Cycles. BPMN: Business Process Model and Notation; CPN: Colored Petri nets; DSR: design-science research; M2X: Machine-to-Everything; TDM: Trusted Document Management.

Fig. 2

Conflicts while processing the (EHRs) electronic health records and (PHRs) personal health records.

Fig. 3

Conceptual depiction of the (MFSSIA) Multi-factor challenge-set self-sovereign identity authentication lifecycle for challenge-response management.

Fig. 4

The goal model for a decentralized individual-centric system. Patient and healthcare professional goals.

Fig. 5

The goal model for a decentralized individual-centric system: insurance provider and general practitioner goals.

Fig. 6

The implementation of business rules has been found to result in conflicts in behavior.

Fig. 7

Claimer-definition process for the insurance provider.

Fig. 8

Patient-claimer internal decision process. BP: blood pressure; DAO: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations; PHR: personal health record.

Fig. 9

The internal decision-making process of healthcare providers with regard to claimants. BP: blood pressure (systolic blood pressure in this case).

Fig. 10

Healthcare professionals assert that the internal decision-making process plays a crucial role in their practice. BP: blood pressure (systolic blood pressure in this case); EHR: electronic health record; PHR: personal health record.

Fig. 11

Insurance provider data conflict resolution process. DAO: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations; Pt: patient; GP: general practitioner; HC: healthcare.

Fig. 12

DAO data validation process. DAO: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations.

Fig. 13

Node data validation process. DAO: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations.

Fig. 14

Workflow net example.

Fig. 15

The CPN model’s external layer defines the interorganizational process. CPN: Colored Petri Nets.

Fig. 16

CPN model page hierarchy. CPN: Colored Petri Nets.

Fig. 17

Screenshot of a patient’s application.

Fig. 18

Insurance provider’s data collection screenshot.