Unlocking the Potential of Virtual Care in Australian Outpatient Services

18/09/2026

AI Summary

Virtual care is central to health system reform, improving access, continuity and efficiency of outpatient services.
Particularly valuable for chronic disease management, virtual care supports continuous, coordinated and person-centred models of care.
Smarter Hospitals analysis of cancer, renal, mental health and rehabilitation services (2019-2024) identifies factors and opportunities to realise virtual care's potential.

TL;DR (AI Generated)

Virtual care has become a critical component of contemporary health system reform, offering opportunities to improve access, continuity and efficiency of care.

Virtual care is particularly relevant for chronic disease management, as it can support more continuous, coordinated and person-centred models of care.

This commentary draws on evidence from a national project titled Smarter Hospitals and examines trends in virtual care use across four service areas (cancer, renal disease, mental health or conditions requiring rehabilitation) over 2019-2024, as well as key factors shaping virtual care use and opportunities to realise its full potential.

Basic summary

Med J Aust. 2026 Sep;224(9):e70302. doi: 10.5694/mja2.70302.

ABSTRACT

Virtual care has become a critical component of contemporary health system reform, offering opportunities to improve access, continuity and efficiency of care. Virtual care is particularly relevant for chronic disease management, as it can support more continuous, coordinated and person-centred models of care. This commentary draws on evidence from a national project titled Smarter Hospitals and examines trends in virtual care use across four service areas (cancer, renal disease, mental health or conditions requiring rehabilitation) over 2019-2024, as well as key factors shaping virtual care use and opportunities to realise its full potential.

PMID:42754537 | DOI:10.5694/mja2.70302

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