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MedRec: Using Blockchain for Medical Data Access and Permission Management

MedRec presents a pioneering decentralized record management system designed to handle electronic health records (EHRs) while maintaining patient privacy and da

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Abstract

MedRec presents a pioneering decentralized record management system designed to handle electronic health records (EHRs) while maintaining patient privacy and data integrity. The system leverages the Ethereum blockchain to manage authentication, confidentiality, and data sharing between patients, providers, and researchers. By utilizing smart contracts, MedRec enables patients to control access permissions to their medical data, creating a verifiable audit trail without storing sensitive health information directly on the ledger. The authors employ a modular architecture that integrates seamlessly with existing health information exchange infrastructures. The paper significantly contributes to the field by demonstrating a practical implementation of blockchain technology to address the fragmented nature of medical records, proposing a patient-centric model where data access logs are immutable and transparent. It serves as a foundational study for understanding the trade-offs between blockchain-based access control and traditional centralized health databases, emphasizing the necessity of balancing technical robustness with regulatory requirements. Authors: Ariel Ekblaw, Asaf Azaria, John D. Halamka, Andrew Lippman Publication: Academic Paper Publication date: 2016-01-01

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Key findings

  • Blockchain can effectively manage access control for medical records without storing sensitive data on-chain.
  • Smart contracts provide a transparent and verifiable audit trail for medical data permissions.
  • The proposed system empowers patients to act as the primary custodians of their health data access rights.
  • Modular blockchain integration is feasible within existing complex healthcare IT ecosystems.

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Citation

Ariel Ekblaw, Asaf Azaria, John D. Halamka, Andrew Lippman (2016). MedRec: Using Blockchain for Medical Data Access and Permission Management. Academic Paper. https://people.cs.pitt.edu/~babay/courses/cs3551/papers/MedRec.pdf
Canonical knowledge ID: research:medrec-using-blockchain-for-medical-data-access-and-permission-management