A service evaluation of virtual wards in Cornwall, UK

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health Implementation
• Patient Experience in Healthcare

Background:

• Virtual wards provide hospital-level care in patients' homes, serving as an alternative to admission or facilitating early discharge.
• Implementation of virtual ward models requires careful consideration of existing health provision and clinician/patient adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of a virtual ward model in Cornwall, UK, using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).
• To explore patient and clinician experiences with virtual wards, identifying facilitators and barriers to adoption.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with virtual ward patients and clinicians.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data, guided by the CFIR.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified include readiness for change, clinician confidence and trust issues due to system incompatibilities, patient trust in staff, and digital exclusion challenges for some patients.
• Despite technical and systemic barriers, patients reported high value for virtual wards, appreciating the person-centered care and feeling safe and supported at home.

Conclusions:

• Virtual wards are a valued and viable alternative to hospital admission, offering safe, person-centered care.
• Rapid implementation necessitates addressing system integration, digital inclusion, and building clinician confidence for successful virtual ward adoption.