Modelling VC cooperation: conditions, mechanisms and outcomes – a multi methodological study

Background

Videoconferencing (VC) for clinical work at scale is now underway at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) as a strategy both to support the goals of more integrated and coordinated patient pathways and reduce secondary health care costs. How clinical VC use is organised and integrated will influence quality of care, effectiveness and costs.

Objectives

1. Explore the emerging new models for clinical VC collaboration and analyse the active mechanisms involved in optimising the service’s potential.
2. Employ and explore how economic decision modelling can be used to analyse condition for and potential implication of using clinical VC.

Method

This project is undertaken within a multi-dimensional methodological perspective, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A wide range of data will be used; observation and in-depth interviews, secondary data from existing trials, systematic reviews, primary data from local and national databases.

Contribution

This work will provide knowledge of: conditions under which will VC work, new ways and conceptualizations of doing co-operation, challenges and modelled outcomes under different scenarios and assumptions. The models (cooperation and economic) will help decide where (clinical area), under which circumstances, and for which patients VC work and establish cost effective ways of delivering treatment and care closer to home.

Financing

Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (HST)

Project manager, responsible for analysing economic models

Trine Bergmo (PhD), tel.: +47 480 03 565.

Project participant, responsible for analysing VC collaboration models

Anne Granstrøm Ekeland (PhD), tel.: +47 952 66 791.