Implementation of Security and Privacy Aspects in a Healthcare Social Network

Abstract

A recent medical survey indicates that healthcare social networks are very helpful in promoting awareness of health issues, discussing related health problems with other patients and healthcare providers, and finding quick solutions for some of the health problems[12]. Social media and advances in mobile technology make healthcare information accessible to many patients. Healthcare providers are also able to gain more benefits from healthcare networks by exchanging information with other providers and disseminating valuable health related information. The two major problems in using healthcare networks as re- ported in the literature are security of information stored and passed through the network, and privacy of patients’ health information. This paper describes the design and implementation of a healthcare network focusing on the two aspects - security and privacy. The authors chose Nephrology, the study of kidney diseases, for illustration. However, the de- sign and implementation of the network has been made sufficiently generic so that it can be used for other health domains such as gynecology and psychiatry.