Co-Designing a Hybrid Virtual Memory Clinic Model for Regional Australia.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Dementia poses a significant disease burden in Australia, particularly impacting regional populations with limited access to timely multidisciplinary assessments.
• Existing healthcare models often result in assessment delays and suboptimal outcomes for individuals with dementia in rural and remote areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design a hybrid virtual memory clinic (hVMC) model tailored for implementation and trial in regional Australian settings.
• To address the challenges of access, timeliness, and continuity of care in regional dementia assessment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional qualitative study involving four co-design workshops with 56 participants, including people living with dementia, care partners, clinicians, and administrators.
• Four in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data and iteratively develop the hVMC model.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: the need for timely and appropriate services, the importance of integrating virtual clinics with existing local services, and the need for clarity on patient suitability for virtual assessments.
• Participants emphasized a person-centred approach, combining virtual and in-person assessments, and fostering collaboration with local providers.
• A co-designed hVMC model was developed, featuring shared intake, regular in-person assessments, post-diagnostic support, and local capacity building.

Conclusions:

• The co-designed hVMC model offers a feasible and accessible solution to improve dementia assessment and care continuity in regional areas.
• Successful implementation requires balancing stakeholder needs with practical considerations and tailoring the model to specific regional contexts.
• The proposed model aims to enhance early diagnosis, support, and management for people with dementia in underserved populations.