Australia’s first virtual hospital will serve as a test case to evaluate and enhance apps used by patients in virtual models of care as part of a new Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) project.
While the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a rapid uptick in the adoption of virtual care solutions, optimisation of these services for long-term sustainability, effectiveness and improved patient outcomes remains an ongoing challenge.
A new innovative research project involving the DHCRC, Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), Macquarie University, and Alcidion, aims to address current knowledge gaps and improve the experience of using patient-facing apps for virtual hospital remote monitoring.
Led by Macquarie University, the study will use Royal Prince Alfred virtual hospital (rpavirtual) – Australia’s first virtual hospital – as a test case.
Launched in 2020, rpavirtual is designed to provide hospital-level care to patients in their homes or from a community health clinic. rpavirtual was one of the first virtual hospitals in Australia to introduce a patient-facing app for remote monitoring of acute respiratory patients. The DHCRC project will evaluate this initiative.
Clinical Director at Sydney LHD, Associate Professor Angus Ritchie, said rpavirtual was a pioneer in its approach to virtual care.
“Our team of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals support patients 24/7, ensuring they receive hospital-level care when and where they need it,” he said.
“This project’s findings will help to ensure virtual hospital services remain sustainable and patient-centred without compromising quality, safety, or clinical outcomes.”
Associate Professor Annie Lau, from Macquarie University’s Australian Institute of Health Innovation, will lead the research project. She said it was important to understand how patient-facing apps can be used as part of remote monitoring programs to enhance patient and carer experiences of virtual hospital services.
“The research will employ a mixed-methods approach to evaluate its impact and analyse patient-reported experiences. We will measure models of care outcomes, identify factors that affect app uptake in virtual hospital service delivery,” Dr Lau said.
Based on user feedback, the project will identify the app features that are most valuable to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals, which will then generate actionable recommendations to improve the overall functionality and integration of the app.
Annette Schmiede, Digital Health CRC CEO, said: “This project is an exciting opportunity to address gaps in evidence and provide practical solutions to enhance virtual hospital care for the long term.”
Kate Quirke, Managing Director at Alcidion, added: “By collaborating with healthcare providers and leveraging digital tools like patient-facing apps, we can advance the way virtual hospital services operate, ensuring they deliver high-quality care and positive patient experiences.”
“The research findings will inform not only the use of patient-facing apps in acute respiratory care but also their application across other models of care, shaping the future of virtual hospital services in Australia and beyond.”
