TML / Studies / Tik-110.501 / Topics

Seminar on Network Security

Introduction of the topics and some material for the session of

Health Care

(Tutored by Joanna Oja and Ursula Holmström)

The topics in this session are mostly focused on applying security to specific mobile health care settings. These are very practical and human/work oriented topics. To achiev a good grade you have to not only know the technology, but also show an understanding of how it can be applied in a real work situation.

The papers should include a description of the problem area, a presentation of the security requirements and a suggestion for good security practices/solutions.

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Security in mobile health care work

In this topic the focus is on mobile health care work such as home care (kotipalvelu) and home health care (kotisairaanhoito) work. These are services offerd to e.g. elderly who still live in their own home, but need some help with their daily/weekly life.

These mobile workers need to communicate with each other, with their workplace and possibly with other health care organisations. The morst obvious security concern is handling and transmitting customer (patient) data. Other issues are privacy vs. reachability of the workers.

Security in hospital networks: requirements and current solution

Overview topic. Should include a desription of used networks, and the relevant security issues in them. (office network, patient databases, IC-network, lab-network/ database, telemedicine, mobile units...)

This topic is too broad as it is, and will be narrowed down according to the interests of the student.

Security issues in wireless patient monitoring

During surgery (anaesthesia) and in intensive care there is a ventilation ... this means connecting a number of sensors to the patient and - through a bundle of cabels - collecting the signals at a central monitoring station.

Imagine this done wirelessly insted. What are the security requirements? (integrity - errors are NOT acceptable, authentication - you don't want the next patients signals, confidentiality...) Is there any current technology that could be applied? Also consider setting up and configuring the system (e.g. adding and removing sensors)

Securing patient data

Hospital - Ambulance team communication

Background material on home care:

• M. Ranta-aho, A. Leppinen, U. Holmström, Liikkuvan hoivatyön televiestintävälineet, Vanhustyön Keskusliitto, 1996
• PDA-ohjelmisto kodinhoitajille, Tik-86.170 Käyttöliittymäkehitys, harjoitustyö (http://www.hut.fi/~ujutila/cv/pdahtml/pda.html)
• Contacts: Vanhustyön keskusliitto, City of Espoon or Helsingin

Telemedicine

• The 3rd Nordic Congress on Telemedicine: The Nordic Experience and Beyond
• Virtual Medical Worlds Magazine - ITIS-ITAB '99 Conference
• European Health Telematics Observatory
• European Health Telematics Observatory

General links

• Ross Anderson's Home Page
• M edical Informatics Home Page
• Security in Medical Information Systems (lecturre slides)
• Role-based Access Control Techniques for Open Medical Information Systems

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The page has been last updated on August 31, 2000
URL: http://www.tml.hut.fi/Opinnot/Tik-110.501/2000/intro/healthcare.html.html