Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities
Introduction: Australians living in isolated communities are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes as a result of rurality. This article provides a needs assessment of healthcare services in a geographically isolated region of Victoria, Australia. Methods: The research project employed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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James Cook University
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Rural and Remote Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8506/ |
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| _version_ | 1850070058714267648 |
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| author | Joanne Porter Megan Simic Naomi Cruz Valerie Prokopiv Eleni McIlroy |
| author_facet | Joanne Porter Megan Simic Naomi Cruz Valerie Prokopiv Eleni McIlroy |
| author_sort | Joanne Porter |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: Australians living in isolated communities are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes as a result of rurality. This article provides a needs assessment of healthcare services in a geographically isolated region of Victoria, Australia.
Methods: The research project employed a mixed-methods design. The study population consisted of members of the isolated communities in Victoria. The incorporation of qualitative data added depth to the quantitative data, ensuring that voices of community members were adequately represented in the needs assessment. Data analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis techniques.
Results: Survey respondents from isolated regional locations highlighted the extended travel time and increasing wait times to see a medical practitioner, leading to a delay in seeking healthcare assistance. Respondents were less likely to have access to and use telehealth services, yet highlighted the service as beneficial to isolated regions. Survey findings were supported by in-depth interviews, with participants stating access to care was difficult, providing place-based suggestions of services to remove barriers to care such as a virtual care model and mobile services visiting the isolated regions.
Conclusion: Access, use and facilitation of appropriate place-based health care within isolated Australia has the potential to increase wellbeing and enables residents to remain in regions that hold long historical and familial connections. By incorporating innovative technologies and models of care that have been evaluated across other isolated regions of Australia and globally, there is an opportunity to adapt existing models to conform to a post-COVID world.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b11bd3376c043b6b0a5de4d3c0e8d2c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1445-6354 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | James Cook University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rural and Remote Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b11bd3376c043b6b0a5de4d3c0e8d2c2025-08-20T02:47:38ZengJames Cook UniversityRural and Remote Health1445-63542025-03-012510.22605/RRH8506Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities Joanne Porter 0Megan Simic1Naomi Cruz2Valerie Prokopiv3Eleni McIlroy4Federation University Federation UniversityFederation University AustraliaCollaborative Evaluation and Research GroupWarm Corners Consulting Introduction: Australians living in isolated communities are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes as a result of rurality. This article provides a needs assessment of healthcare services in a geographically isolated region of Victoria, Australia. Methods: The research project employed a mixed-methods design. The study population consisted of members of the isolated communities in Victoria. The incorporation of qualitative data added depth to the quantitative data, ensuring that voices of community members were adequately represented in the needs assessment. Data analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis techniques. Results: Survey respondents from isolated regional locations highlighted the extended travel time and increasing wait times to see a medical practitioner, leading to a delay in seeking healthcare assistance. Respondents were less likely to have access to and use telehealth services, yet highlighted the service as beneficial to isolated regions. Survey findings were supported by in-depth interviews, with participants stating access to care was difficult, providing place-based suggestions of services to remove barriers to care such as a virtual care model and mobile services visiting the isolated regions. Conclusion: Access, use and facilitation of appropriate place-based health care within isolated Australia has the potential to increase wellbeing and enables residents to remain in regions that hold long historical and familial connections. By incorporating innovative technologies and models of care that have been evaluated across other isolated regions of Australia and globally, there is an opportunity to adapt existing models to conform to a post-COVID world. https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8506/Australiaevaluationfeasibilitymixed methodsmodel of careprimary health |
| spellingShingle | Joanne Porter Megan Simic Naomi Cruz Valerie Prokopiv Eleni McIlroy Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities Rural and Remote Health Australia evaluation feasibility mixed methods model of care primary health |
| title | Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities |
| title_full | Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities |
| title_fullStr | Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities |
| title_short | Remote health solutions in Far East Gippsland: a mixed-methods, co-designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities |
| title_sort | remote health solutions in far east gippsland a mixed methods co designed evaluation of health service availability in isolated communities |
| topic | Australia evaluation feasibility mixed methods model of care primary health |
| url | https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/article/8506/ |
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