A comprehensive evaluation tool to assess community capacity and readiness for virtual care implementation

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Rapid virtual care technology adoption outpaces standardized protocols, creating adoption gaps, especially in rural areas.
• Existing implementation strategies often fail to address community-specific needs and infrastructure.
• Equitable and sustainable virtual care requires robust assessment of community capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce a comprehensive evaluation tool to assess community capacity and readiness for virtual care.
• Provide a structured approach to bridge the gap between technology deployment and standardized implementation.
• Enhance the successful and equitable adoption of virtual care services.

Main Methods:

• Tool development informed by the Virtual Care and Robotics Program at the University of Saskatchewan.
• Collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach involving healthcare leaders, IT experts, and community health workers.
• Iterative refinement into a user-friendly checklist manual based on defined categories and domains.

Main Results:

• The tool assesses readiness across three domains: clinical needs, technology infrastructure, and human resources/workflows.
• Successfully piloted in Fond du Lac, Saskatchewan, qualifying the community for telerobotic ultrasound services.
• Facilitated local engagement and identified specific community needs, improving the implementation process.

Conclusions:

• The evaluation tool aids in standardizing virtual care implementation protocols.
• Offers a practical method for assessing and improving community readiness for virtual care.
• Promotes successful clinical implementation and equitable healthcare access through virtual care.