Issues in the Development of Blockchain Technologies in Electronic Health Record Architectures: A Scoping Review

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2025 Apr 8:323:243-247. doi: 10.3233/SHTI250087.

Abstract

Blockchain technologies (BT) offer transformative potential for healthcare data management, particularly in enhancing electronic health record (EHR) systems by addressing data security and ethical challenges. This study explores the barriers to integrating blockchain within EHRs. Through a review of eight key studies, we identified several critical challenges, categorized into ten primary areas, that hinder the incorporation of BT into EHR architecture. Findings from this scoping review highlight the complexity of embedding BT within EHR frameworks. Addressing these barriers will require coordinated efforts among healthcare professionals and policymakers. Further research is needed to develop practical solutions that maximize the benefits of blockchain while mitigating its limitations within EHR systems.

Keywords: Blockchain; Challenges; Data Integrity; Electronic Health Records; Interoperability; Privacy; Scalability; Security; User Experience.

Publication types

  • Scoping Review

MeSH terms

  • Blockchain*
  • Computer Security*
  • Electronic Health Records* / organization & administration
  • Humans