Applications of blockchain technology in long-term care: Use cases, potentials, and barriers (Scopus).

Abstract Background: Digitalization in long-term care (LTC) is being discussed as an important instrument for easing pressures on care service delivery, optimizing processes of care coordination and planning, and improving service quality. With its advanced data protection and process automation features, blockchain technology could help solving data security and privacy issues especially for the implementation of assistive technologies. Blockchains are thus a new technology being tapped in LTC. However, little is known about the fields, scopes and experiences of applied Blockchain technologies in this sector. Objective: This systematic review aims to provide an extensive overview of current discussions and use cases of blockchain technology in LTC settings. Particular attention was paid to the objectives behind the new technology, measured effects and evaluation results, and learnings from implementation processes.