Bridging Distances: A Retrospective Study of Virtual Care to Reduce Travel Burden in Rural Healthcare

Bridging Distances: A Retrospective Study of Virtual Care to Reduce Travel Burden in Rural Healthcare

Introduction This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the Virtual Wound Consultancy Service (VWCS) in improving healthcare access, reducing travel time, and lowering travel-associated costs for rural patients in need of wound care. With one-third of Australians in regional or remote areas facing limited healthcare access, this study examined virtual wound care's ability to overcome geographical barriers, focusing on quantifying travel time and cost savings.
Methods A retrospective analysis compared service utilisation and travel savings between patients using the VWCS and those receiving traditional in-person care. This study reviewed data from chronic wound patients across inpatient, outpatient, and residential aged-care settings in a large rural health district from July 2018 to March 2024. Data was compared between VWCS patients and those receiving traditional in-person care. Key outcome measures included travel time, travel costs, travel distance and access to care.
Results: The findings revealed that the VWCS significantly reduced travel burdens for rural patients. Patients living more than 201 km from a specialist centre saved an average of 444 minutes per round trip. Financially, patients saved up to AU$507.49 per trip, with the highest savings observed for those farthest from healthcare centres. The VWCS also provided timely access to wound care, with an average wait time of 3.7 days from referral to consultation. Most VWCS services included audio/visual assessments (40%), case management (27.5%), and email consultations (18%). Over the study period, the VWCS serviced 385 patients, averaging 2.6 consultations per patient.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the VWCS significantly improves access to wound care for rural populations by reducing the time and financial costs associated with travel. The results support the expansion of virtual care models in rural and remote areas. Future research should focus on assessing long-term clinical outcomes and refining virtual care delivery models to enhance the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare services in these regions.