Secure Key Exchange for Protecting Health Data Diffie-Hellman Based Approach

In today's interconnected communication landscape, ensuring the protection of sensitive health data has become a top priority. This research delves into fortifying the security of HL7 health data using a Diffie-Hellman-centric approach, with a particular focus on bolstering the key exchange mechanism. Our methodology encompasses a sequence of steps: first, converting HL7 files into Base64 format to ensure secure transmission; next, employing the Diffie-Hellman protocol to facilitate a robust key exchange between the sender and receiver; then, using the shared secret keys for the encryption at the sender's end and decryption at the receiver's. By refining the key exchange process, this research aims to mitigate vulnerabilities inherent in transmitting crucial healthcare information. The practical implementation is carried out through a Node.js application, which incorporates the crypto module for various cryptographic tasks. Effectiveness is assessed by examining various performance metrics, such as key exchange and encryption/decryption times. Conclusively, this work offers a significant enhancement to HL7 health data security, presenting invaluable insights for healthcare systems determined to protect their sensitive data in our digital age.