Challenges for remote patient monitoring programs in rural and regional areas: a qualitative study

Joel Fossouo Tagne ¹, Kara Burns ², Teresa O'Brein ²

⁰Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, University of Melbourne, Level 8 - Melbourne Connect, 700 Swanston St., Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia. joel.fossouotagne@unimelb.edu.au.

Bmc Health Services Research +

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March 14, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) can improve rural healthcare access, but implementation faces barriers like digital literacy and infrastructure. Tailored strategies are crucial for successful RPM in regional Australia.

Area Of Science

Digital Health
Healthcare Management
Rural Health Equity

Background

Rural populations face significant healthcare access challenges compared to urban counterparts.
Digital health tools, such as remote patient monitoring (RPM), offer potential solutions but lack research on implementation in remote areas.

Purpose Of The Study

To identify facilitators and barriers for healthcare staff implementing RPM in rural and regional Australia.
To understand challenges arising post-COVID-19 pandemic for RPM adoption.

Main Methods

Semi-structured focus groups with healthcare professionals in rural Victoria, Australia.
Utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) for theme identification.
Analyzed barriers and facilitators at micro, meso, and macro levels.

Main Results

Identified micro-level barriers (digital literacy, language), meso-level barriers (IT infrastructure, training, governance), and macro-level barriers (funding, service provider reliability).
Acknowledged benefits including improved interoperability, community engagement, and data-driven quality improvement.
Highlighted the value of flexible, tailored RPM approaches for rural and regional needs.

Conclusions

Health professionals view RPM as vital for bridging rural healthcare divides.
Urban-centric RPM strategies risk failure if not adapted for rural challenges.
Prioritizing region-specific strategies, policy reforms, and equitable resource allocation is essential for successful RPM implementation in rural settings.

Keywords:

Digital health equity Remote patient monitoring Rural healthcare