Integrating virtual models of care through infrastructure innovation in healthcare facility design.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the potential value of virtual models of care to support more efficient and accessible healthcare delivery at reduced cost. In order to achieve this, the healthcare services and facilities must be designed to integrate virtual care. To date, incremental approaches have been used to accommodate virtual care innovations within existing systems and services. Infrastructure innovation is now critical to fully realise the benefits of virtual and hybrid models of care for population health and health system efficiency. With record capital expenditure on healthcare infrastructure across Australian jurisdictions, we are in a critical period for making transformative changes to the design of healthcare facilities to ensure the relevance of future facilities and redevelopments. We examine the value proposition posed by our current healthcare infrastructure approach and how system-wide planning for the integration of virtual models of care may optimise the ability of the Australian health system to meet emerging and future health needs.