On the same page: Co-designing the logic model of a telehealth service for children in rural and remote Australia

Abstract

The value of programme logic models as a tool for planning, evaluation, and communication is well recognised. However, the value of its development process is less discussed. In this paper, we describe how we used a combination of literature review and organisational stakeholder consultations to develop a logic model for a telehealth programme for children in rural and remote Australia. Our aim was to use this process to further embed the programme within its implementing organisation, and by so doing to promote its sustainability and scale-up; a major challenge of telehealth programmes, especially those involving reorganisation of processes. Our efforts to describe the components of this complex intervention on the one-page logic model allowed for debates and discussions within the implementing organisation which then facilitated an improved cross-organisational understanding of the telehealth programme; a real time face-to-face (video-link) service which requires the reorganisation of existing service delivery platforms. The process helped to embed the telehealth programme within existing services. We conclude that stakeholder engagement in developing logic models can transform them from being only a tool that provides the picture of why and how a programme works, to one that plays a role in embedding programmes within implementing organisations.

The medium, the message and the measure: a theory-driven review on the value of telehealth as a patient-facing digital health innovation

“…Having such a measure may be important for making the case to regulators or third party payers to pay for or subsidise the costs of using patient-facing digital health innovations [6]. Notably, the need for such a measure is borne out in our experience working in a non-governmental organisation which seeks insurance reimbursement for services provided via videoconferencing to children in rural Australia [7]. Such a measure is important in efforts to assess the value proposition of health technologies, as the value or relative advantage that a technology confers may be different for diverse stakeholders [8–11].…”

Maternal and Child Health Nursing education before and during COVID-19: An exploratory descriptive study

“…Students and clinicians have gained experience in telehealth as an additional practice tool; however, support is needed to ensure educator and practitioner skill development for this different way of communicating and assessing wellbeing. Abimbola et al (2019) described six factors affecting successful implementation of telehealth interactions in rural and remote areas of Australia that could be applied more broadly. These include a need for carefully planned, consultative, evidence-based, well supported, cost effective and efficient systems.…”

“…During the pandemic, experiential aspects of Maternal, Child and Family Health nursing education were disrupted by physical distancing restrictions and, in some areas, the replacement of face-to-face consultations with telehealth ( Adams et al, 2020 ; Byrne, 2020 ). Telehealth includes asynchronous (such as electronic referrals and text messaging) and synchronous (telephone and video) communication ( Abimbola et al, 2019 ). While telehealth consultations were slowly being implemented in Australia before the pandemic, they were rarely used in Maternal, Child and Family Health services.…”

O efeito da municipalização no sistema hospitalar brasileiro: os hospitais de pequeno porte

“…The reorganization of the Brazilian hospital complex, aiming at the efficiency, quality, and comprehensive care can and should use these resources 28 . Some other countries with universal systems, such as Canada and Australia [34][35][36][37] , have reorganized their health systems, improving their efficiency and quality through the use of telemedicine, ensuring access by people from rural and remote areas to specialized services and of high technological incorporation (such as neurosurgical and hemodynamic procedures). Ensuring access, comprehensive care, and quality of care, whether in primary or hospital care, should be the guiding principles of such policies.…”