Integrating place-based and virtual models of palliative care: A case report

Palliative care management in rural and remote areas generally relies on local resources including a primary healthcare professional and a local health facility. Either in the absence of a primary healthcare professional, or in more complex cases, a patient is frequently transferred to a larger rural- or metropolitan-based health facility, away from community and local supports. With increasing challenges in locum availability, healthcare professionals are challenged in looking out for their own wellness needs, often having to choose between taking time-off or staying on duty and available to provide ongoing care for their patients. In this case report, we describe an alternative hybrid model of care which integrates place-based and virtual management, utilising digital health technologies. This approach supported a rural healthcare professional to take leave, by transferring the care and management of a palliative care patient to the WA Country Health Inpatient Telehealth Service, allowing the patient to remain in their local community and die in their place of choice. Access to palliative care is of great importance to quality care and its impacts cannot be overstated for the person with a terminal illness and their family, it is also important to take into consideration the role of the health professional and their well-being.