"Secure Data Backup of Medical Records Using Secret Sharing and Secure Communications"
A secure data backup system for medical records, called Healthcare Long-term Integrity and Confidentiality Protection System (H-LINCOS), was developed by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Kochi Health Science Center, and other collaborating research teams. The system would be useful if a disaster occurs as it would allow medical records to be cross-referenced and shared between hospitals. The researchers demonstrated the distributed storage of medical records as well as the quick restoring of medical information such as prescription records and allergy information. Secure communication and secret sharing technologies are used to ensure the confidentiality of medical records. These records can also be easily shared and cross-referenced because the system conforms to a standardized data format. This article continues to discuss the importance of H-LINCOS, the demonstration of this system by researchers, and how the system will continue to be improved.