A Literature Study on Blockchain-Based Access Control for Electronic Health Records

The need for more advanced medical information systems became evident as data increased. Providers abandoned medical records on paper, and patient privacy was more valued. Electronic Health Records, or EHRs, are the digital version of traditional paper charts or medical records. They keep extensive records of a patient’s medical background. They aim to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery, reduce medical errors, and provide better-coordinated care by making patient information accessible and up-to-date. These systems are susceptible to hacking, cyberattacks, and unauthorized access if they are not sufficiently secured, which could result in data breaches. Private health information may be made public due to breaches, which could result in identity theft, fraud, or other improper uses of personal information. Managing patient access to medical records is a significant concern for healthcare institutions. The three main parts of access control are identification, authentication, and authorization. This chapter’s goal is to provide a thorough analysis of how blockchain technology is used in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) access control management, with a particular emphasis on security and privacy issues that are common in healthcare settings. It will assess and contrast several solutions that have been put up to mitigate these difficulties and investigate their viability. In addition, the chapter will evaluate the shortcomings and research gaps in the current blockchain-based EHR access control solutions and suggest future directions for investigation and advancement.