The Role of Technology in Supporting Collaborative Healthcare Delivery in Rural Australia: Challenges and New Directions

The vastness of the Australian continent and the extensive distribution of its population pose many challenges for the widespread provision of both place-based and virtual healthcare services. Rural residents experience digital exclusion as a result of poorer connectivity, limited access to technology, and inadequate training and support. These limitations impact their capacity to take full advantage of the digital health services that are rapidly evolving, particularly since the onset of COVID-19. At the same time, students across the health professions are experiencing far greater exposure to digital learning platforms and virtual environments. In addition, digital capability frameworks are emerging in educational institutions. However, there is limited evidence that these innovations are extending into the development of uniprofessional or interprofessional competencies in the delivery of digital health services. In this chapter, we explore the challenges of delivering digital health services in rural and remote locations and discuss how we are educating and preparing the next generation of health professionals to use digital media in uniprofessional and interprofessional practice with a particular focus on rural and remote dwellers. We critique the theoretical and practice frameworks/theories that are currently in place and their fitness for purpose. We reflect on new requirements that must be considered including the development of accreditation standards, codes of practice, competencies, place-based training approaches, and hybrid models. In addition, we consider the needs of the public and how they may be involved in codesign, especially in rural and remote settings for delivery of digital health and hybrid services. We conclude with some recommendations of what changes need to be made to training and what larger national approaches are required to lead to a fair and equitable delivery of virtual health services across all locations including rural and remote using new digital technologies.