Ensuring the security and privacy of information in mobile health-care communication systems

ABSTRACT

The sensitivity of health-care information and its accessibility via the Internet and mobile technology systems is a cause for concern in these modern times. The privacy; integrity and confidentiality of a patient's data are key factors to be considered in the transmission of medical information for use by authorised health-care personnel. Mobile communication has enabled medical consultancy; treatment; drug administration and the provision of laboratory results to take place outside the hospital. With the implementation of electronic patient records and the Internet and Intranets; medical information sharing amongst relevant health-care providers was made possible. But the vital issue in this method of information sharing is security the patient's privacy; as well as the confidentiality and integrity of the health-care information system; should not be compromised. We examine various ways of ensuring the security and privacy of a patient's electronic medical information in order to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information