Blockchain and distributed ledgers show potential as trusted recordkeeping systems according to archival theory. The document discusses an evaluation framework for assessing blockchain-based recordkeeping based on key archival principles like trust, accuracy, reliability, and persistence over time. It provides examples of using blockchain for health records in Estonia where patient data, documents, and audit logs are stored immutably. The architecture ensures integrity and completeness from creation onward while maintaining patient identity and authenticity of records.

1. Blockchain and Distributed Ledgers as Trusted
Recordkeeping Systems:
An Archival Theoretic Evaluation Framework
Victoria L. Lemieux
Associate Professor, Archival Science
School of Library, Archival and Information Studies
University of British Columbia
vlemieux@mail.ubc.ca

2. Recordkeeping on the Blockchain: Use Cases
Source: http://theaccountant.org.mt/the-blockchain-revolution/

3. Trusted Recordkeeping: An Archival Science
Perspective
Trust
Accuracy Reliability
Completeness at point
of creation
Consistency (with
formal rules of
creation)
Objectivity/Impartiality
(Naturalness)
Authenticity
Identity
Archival Bond
Integrity
Completeness after
creation
Persistence
Through
Time

4. Generic Blockchain Recordkeeping Reference
Architecture
4

5. Estonian E-Health Recordkeeping
The e-Health system is
implemented using Oracle DB
technology. Service layer is
implemented using WebMethods
Integration Server and broker
(http://www2.softwareag.com/uk/pr
oducts/webmethods_integration/int
egration/default.aspx)
e-Health information system:
architecture
e-Health Information System simplified data model

6. Estonian E-Health Recordkeeping
• The most important data elements managed in the e-Health register
are:
• documents (Dokumendid): documents about an healthcare occurrence (f.ex.
visit to a doctor, surgery, analysis in a lab);
• patient data (Patsiendid);
• Relations register (Viidaregister): relations between patients and documents;
• Relations audit (Viidaregistri audit) and patient audit (Patsientide audit):
technical audit data on the integrity of the according relations and patient
tables;
• The “documents” are kept in XML format. In addition most
“documents” are also digitally signed and kept in the table in parallel

7. Estonian E-Health Recordkeeping
Generic view of GuardTime Keyless Signature implementation

8. Guardtime KSI Solution Structure
8

9. Evaluation using Archival Theoretic
Recordkeeping Framework
Trust
Accuracy Reliability
Completeness at point
of creation
Consistency (with formal
rules of creation)
Objectivity/Impartiality
(Naturalness)
Authenticity
Identity
Archival Bond
Integrity
Completeness after
creation
Red = out of scope of KSI Solution
Green = in scope of KSI Solution
Persistence
Through
Time