SCOPE and FRAME: Context-Specific Tools for Virtual Care Service Delivery in Rural and Remote Communities

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Services Research
• Rural Health

Background:

• Rural and remote communities face unique challenges in healthcare planning and virtual care delivery.
• Existing tools may not adequately address the specific contextual needs of these populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot test two context-specific digital tools: Standardized Community Overview for Planning and Evaluation (SCOPE) and Facility Review for Assessing Medical Environments (FRAME).
• To support virtual care service delivery and healthcare planning in rural and remote settings.

Main Methods:

• A participatory case study design using user-centered development principles.
• Collaborative workshops with stakeholders including clinicians, administrators, and community partners.
• Pilot testing in three diverse communities in Saskatchewan, Canada, with qualitative feedback collection.

Main Results:

• The SCOPE and FRAME tools provided centralized access to essential community information, aiding healthcare planning and service coordination.
• Dynamic features allowed for real-time updates, reflecting evolving healthcare service availability.
• Data visualization dashboards facilitated trend interpretation and service gap identification.

Conclusions:

• Context-specific digital tools like SCOPE and FRAME show promise in improving coordination, planning, and contextual awareness for virtual care in rural and remote communities.
• These tools can enhance the onboarding of virtual care clinicians and understanding of local care pathways.