Considerations for design and implementation of a Virtual Hospital
This study aimed to inform the design and implementation of the UnitingCare Virtual Hospital by identifying considerations, barriers and enablers to establishing an Australian private virtual hospital.
Research Project Team
Lead Researcher
Dr Olivia Fisher
Research Team
Dr Caroline Grogan
Kelly McGrath
Dr Shanthi Kanagarajah, Queensland Physician Care
Dr Ian Smith, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital
Sue-Ellen Smith, BlueCare Community
Andrew Barron
About this Research Project
In September 2022 UnitingCare Queensland engaged Wesley Research Institute to conduct a context assessment to identify considerations to inform the development and implementation of their new Virtual Hospital.
This project involved:
- 37 interviews between February and July 2023 with
a. Patients and family carers
b. Staff of UnitingCare Queensland
c. Staff of The Wesley Hospital, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and Buderim Private Hospital
d. Staff of BlueCare Community and BlueCare Residential Facilities
e. Queensland Health stakeholders. - Review of patient clinical and demographic information from the UnitingCare Hospitals.
- Review of key documents such as legislation, strategy documents, and policies.
A summary of the results of this research were presented at a series of co-design workshops. A detailed report with recommendations for design and implementation of the UnitingCare Virtual Hospital was presented to UnitingCare Queensland.
Publications & Reports
Fisher, O. J., Grogan, C., McGrath, K., Kanagarajah, S., Smith, S-E., Smith, I., Martin, E., Cockshaw, W., Moshi, B., & Barron, A. (2024). UnitingCare Queensland Virtual Hospital Context Assessment and Co-Design: Confidential Internal Report. Wesley Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland.