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AbstrAct
Access to mobile data and messages is essential
in healthcare environment as patients and health-
care providers are mobile. This is inline with the
need of ubiquitous computing in everyday life.
Mobile and wireless devices can assist in ensuring
patient’s safety by providing easy availability of
the data at the point of care. Portability and acces-
sibility of these devices enhances use of them in
healthcare environment. However, data integrity
and confdentiality of information in them need
to be ensured to provide safe, effective and ef-
fcient healthcare. Mobile healthcare involves
conducting healthcare related activities through
using mobile devices such as a smart phone,
Personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless enabled
computer, iPod and so on. Mobile computing is
suitable for healthcare as healthcare providers are
mobile. These would be suitable for conducting
patient’s healthcare activities in emergencies, ward
rounds, homecare, chronic disease management,
conducting clinical trials, and so on. There are
various projects using mobile devices to enhance
patient’s care. With the advancement of medical
informatics, telemedicine and information tech-
nology, mobile data devices play an enormous
role in healthcare system. In this chapter, we
outline the need of mobile devices in healthcare,
usage of these devices, underlying technology
and applications, importance of security of these
devices, securing mobile data communication
Chapter 7.5
Securing Mobile Data
Computing in Healthcare
Willy Susilo
University of Wollongong, Australia
Khin Than Win
University of Wollongong, Australia
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