Investigating Inpatient Acceptance of a Unique Telemedicine Service Trialled in the Acute Ward in Rural Australia
This study investigated inpatient acceptance of a unique telemedicine clinical service piloted from December 2022 to June 2023 in 3 rural acute wards in Victoria, Australia. The use of virtual care was complementary to the visiting general practitioner (GP) model common in rural hospitals. The quali...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Patient Experience |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735241311716 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | This study investigated inpatient acceptance of a unique telemedicine clinical service piloted from December 2022 to June 2023 in 3 rural acute wards in Victoria, Australia. The use of virtual care was complementary to the visiting general practitioner (GP) model common in rural hospitals. The qualitative study employed 3 researcher-designed questions: Did you feel safe using the virtual healthcare doctor?; Did you feel the care you experienced was as it should be? And; If you were offered virtual care again, would you use it? Participants ( n = 38) were predominantly over 65 years (95%). Findings describe safe care as being able to understand the virtual doctor, be listened to, and ask questions. Participants affirmed that the care experienced was helpful due to prompt in-hospital clinical interventions organized by the virtual weekend coverage. Most were first-time users of virtual care and recognized that rural doctors need a break. Barriers to acceptance of the service were concerns about the loss of in-person visits with their local doctor and that virtual care could replace local GPs. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2374-3743 |