Abstract
Background
Health systems worldwide are currently adapting their virtual care platforms and strategies for long-term sustainability. There is a pressing need to define the essential infrastructure and capabilities required for effective virtual care in today's complex healthcare environment. The study aimed to identify the essential infrastructure and capability prerequisites for supporting effective patient-centred virtual care in the contemporary healthcare environment.
Method
The READ (readying the materials, extracting data, analysing and distilling findings) method of document analysis was utilised to examine frameworks from Australia and New Zealand that offer guidance on the implementation, operation, and delivery of virtual care. A systematic search of 39 organisations, including government departments,
healthcare agencies, private organisations, and non-governmental entities were conducted. Thematic framework analysis was then employed to synthesise the findings.
Findings
Analysis identified fifteen frameworks related to virtual care delivery, revealing ten main capability domains. Notably, these frameworks predominantly emphasised operational aspects such as technology infrastructure (14/15), governance (9/15), and data management (11/15). However, critical elements such as physical infrastructure (6/15), patient care (7/15), equity (4/15), collaboration (3/15), healthcare outcomes (2/15), workflow (4/15) and proactive change management (2/15) were relatively underrepresented.
Implications
The study highlighted essential capability domains and identified gaps in current frameworks essential for supporting patient-centred, collaborative, and sustainable virtual care initiatives. While there are certain capabilities and infrastructural elements agreed upon as critical across frameworks, the existence of varying guidance regarding patient and change process may suggest potential inconsistencies in capability development within and across systems of care provision. Understanding these domains and the disparities identified can provide valuable insights guiding the formulation of policies and guidelines for virtual care integration within public health systems with in Australia and New Zealand.
Health systems worldwide are currently adapting their virtual care platforms and strategies for long-term sustainability. There is a pressing need to define the essential infrastructure and capabilities required for effective virtual care in today's complex healthcare environment. The study aimed to identify the essential infrastructure and capability prerequisites for supporting effective patient-centred virtual care in the contemporary healthcare environment.
Method
The READ (readying the materials, extracting data, analysing and distilling findings) method of document analysis was utilised to examine frameworks from Australia and New Zealand that offer guidance on the implementation, operation, and delivery of virtual care. A systematic search of 39 organisations, including government departments,
healthcare agencies, private organisations, and non-governmental entities were conducted. Thematic framework analysis was then employed to synthesise the findings.
Findings
Analysis identified fifteen frameworks related to virtual care delivery, revealing ten main capability domains. Notably, these frameworks predominantly emphasised operational aspects such as technology infrastructure (14/15), governance (9/15), and data management (11/15). However, critical elements such as physical infrastructure (6/15), patient care (7/15), equity (4/15), collaboration (3/15), healthcare outcomes (2/15), workflow (4/15) and proactive change management (2/15) were relatively underrepresented.
Implications
The study highlighted essential capability domains and identified gaps in current frameworks essential for supporting patient-centred, collaborative, and sustainable virtual care initiatives. While there are certain capabilities and infrastructural elements agreed upon as critical across frameworks, the existence of varying guidance regarding patient and change process may suggest potential inconsistencies in capability development within and across systems of care provision. Understanding these domains and the disparities identified can provide valuable insights guiding the formulation of policies and guidelines for virtual care integration within public health systems with in Australia and New Zealand.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Dec 2024 |
| Event | 13th Health Services Research Conference: Health Services Research in the Digital Age - Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Duration: 4 Dec 2024 → 6 Dec 2024 https://eventstudio.eventsair.com/hsr-2024-conference/ |
Conference
| Conference | 13th Health Services Research Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | HSR 2024 |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Brisbane |
| Period | 4/12/24 → 6/12/24 |
| Internet address |