Nelson Advisors referenced in the Journal of Medical Internet Research publication 'The Views and Experiences of Integrated Care System Commissioners About the Adoption and Implementation of Virtual Wards in England: Qualitative Exploration Study'

Nelson Advisors has been referenced in the Journal of Medical Internet Research publication 'The Views and Experiences of Integrated Care System Commissioners About the Adoption and Implementation of Virtual Wards in England: Qualitative Exploration Study'.

Source: https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e56494

Background: Virtual wards (VWs) are being introduced within the National Health Service (NHS) in England as a new way of delivering care to patients who would otherwise be hospitalized. Using digital technologies, patients can receive acute care, remote monitoring, and treatment in their homes. Integrated care system commissioners are employees involved in the planning of, agreeing to, and monitoring of services within NHS England and have an important role in the adoption and implementation of VWs in clinical practice.

Objective: This study aims to develop an understanding of the acceptability and feasibility of adopting and implementing VWs in England from integrated care system commissioners’ perspectives, including the identification of barriers and facilitators to implementation.

Methods: Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 commissioners employed by NHS England (NHSE) in various geographic regions of England. Thematic analysis was conducted, structured using the framework approach, and informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. The COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) guidelines were followed.

Virtual wards (VWs) are models of care delivery whereby patients receive the care they need at home rather than in a hospital. This includes either preventing unplanned hospital admissions or supporting people to safely leave the hospital sooner. There is considerable overlap between VW and hospital at home (HaH) models of care, and these terms are sometimes confused or used interchangeably [4]. Frequently used definitions state that HaH services provide face-to-face care at home through community-based multidisciplinary teams [5], whereas VWs are hospital-led and managed to enable the delivery of at-home acute care, monitoring, and treatment using a variable combination of face-to-face care and remote monitoring (eg, through apps, technology platforms, and wearable devices) [6,7]. The scope of VWs as a model of care varies from models using remote monitoring technology to predominantly operate without in-person intervention (eg, telehealth hubs with remote monitoring) to models more heavily reliant on multidisciplinary teams delivering in-person care in patient homes [8]. Therefore, the latter end of this continuum of care overlaps largely with HaH models. VW or HaH models of care have been used across various countries, including the United States [9,10], Australia [11], the Netherlands [12], and Saudi Arabia [13].

9. Virtual wards: why are they not widely adopted across the US healthcare industry? 2023. Healthcare Technology. [2024-06-05]. https://www.healthcare.digital/single-post/virtual-wards-why-are-they-not-widely-adopted-across-the-us-healthcare-industry