Tabatabaei Pedram, Salomonsson Josef, Bredemo Linda, Wänman Johan
Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Neuromodulation. 2025 Apr 1. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2025.02.007.
The increasing adoption of digital health care solutions offers a transformative opportunity to improve patient access while addressing sustainability and cost-efficiency challenges. Our study evaluates a virtual remote care system (VRCS) that has been implemented at our clinic in northern Sweden. By combining patient-centered outcomes, environmental metrics, and health economic models, this study examines the impact of a VRCS on patient satisfaction, resource utilization, and environmental sustainability.
Eighty patients with chronic pain, treated with spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion stimulation, participated in this study. All accessed the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic platform for remote consultations and troubleshooting. A patient satisfaction survey assessed usability, trust, and preference for digital vs in-person consultations. A health economic model analyzed travel costs, CO emissions, and time burdens for in-clinic consultations vs a mixed care pathway across three scenarios of VRCS adoption (20%, 50%, and 100%).
The survey results indicated high levels of patient satisfaction, with an average score of 9.1 out of 10, and strong trust in the platform, reported by 98.75% of participants. The introduction of digital consultations led to substantial reductions in travel-related burdens, including a 75% decrease in costs, CO emissions, and travel time during the first year, stabilizing at a 70% reduction in subsequent years. Patients traveling over 500 km experienced the greatest benefits, with annual savings of €525, a reduction of 231 kg in CO emissions, and 19 fewer hours of travel time. The mixed care pathways enhanced accessibility, reducing cancellations and no-shows by up to 59%. Despite increased troubleshooting consultations, hospital resource utilization remained stable, with only marginal increases in workload and space utilization.
The VRCS aligns with key health care priorities, including improving access, enhancing patient experience, and promoting sustainability. It addresses regional challenges, such as long travel distances and harsh winters, while reducing the ecological footprint of health care delivery. The platform's ability to decrease travel burdens and CO emissions aligns with global sustainability goals. However, barriers such as digital literacy and data privacy require further attention to ensure equitable access.
The VRCS demonstrates significant benefits, including high patient satisfaction, reduced travel burdens, and improved resource utilization. By aligning with sustainability objectives, it offers a scalable model for digital transformation in health care, underscoring the importance of continued investment in remote care technologies.
数字医疗保健解决方案的日益普及提供了一个变革性的机会，既能改善患者就医机会，又能应对可持续性和成本效益挑战。我们的研究评估了在瑞典北部我们诊所实施的虚拟远程护理系统（VRCS）。通过结合以患者为中心的结果、环境指标和健康经济模型，本研究考察了VRCS对患者满意度、资源利用和环境可持续性的影响。
80名接受脊髓或背根神经节刺激治疗的慢性疼痛患者参与了本研究。所有人都通过NeuroSphere虚拟诊所平台进行远程咨询和故障排除。一项患者满意度调查评估了数字咨询与面对面咨询的可用性、信任度和偏好。一个健康经济模型分析了诊所内咨询与三种VRCS采用场景（20%、50%和100%）下的混合护理途径的旅行成本、二氧化碳排放量和时间负担。
调查结果显示患者满意度较高，平均得分为9.1（满分10分），98.75%的参与者表示对该平台高度信任。数字咨询的引入大幅减轻了与旅行相关的负担，包括第一年成本、二氧化碳排放量和旅行时间减少75%，随后几年稳定在减少70%。行程超过500公里的患者受益最大，每年节省525欧元，二氧化碳排放量减少231公斤，旅行时间减少19小时。混合护理途径提高了可及性，将取消预约和爽约率降低了多达59%。尽管故障排除咨询有所增加，但医院资源利用保持稳定，工作量和空间利用仅略有增加。
VRCS符合关键的医疗保健优先事项，包括改善就医机会、提升患者体验和促进可持续性。它解决了偏远地区的挑战，如长途旅行和严冬，同时减少了医疗服务的生态足迹。该平台减轻旅行负担和二氧化碳排放量的能力符合全球可持续发展目标。然而，数字素养和数据隐私等障碍需要进一步关注，以确保公平获取。
VRCS显示出显著益处，包括高患者满意度、减轻旅行负担和改善资源利用。通过符合可持续发展目标，它为医疗保健的数字化转型提供了一个可扩展的模式，凸显了持续投资远程护理技术的重要性。
