Virtual care delivery in Saskatchewan: Multi-stakeholder perspectives on implementation, appropriateness, and evaluation

TL;DR

This study explores how virtual care is being used in Saskatchewan, highlighting its benefits for chronic disease and mental health, while identifying barriers like technology access and cost.

Contribution

The study provides multi-stakeholder insights into virtual care implementation, identifying key barriers and opportunities for improvement in health policy and delivery.

Findings

Chronic disease management and mental health disorders are well-suited for virtual care.

Health administrators see cost savings and improved access as key benefits but lack evaluation frameworks.

Barriers include digital literacy, technology constraints, and misaligned compensation models.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide an update on patients’, clinicians’, and health administrators’ experiences and perspectives on opportunities, barriers, and priorities for virtual care to inform health policy and planning as virtual care programs continue to mature and develop. Three surveys were developed and distributed in Saskatchewan, Canada. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests, and free-text responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Chronic disease management and mental health disorders were identified as highly suitable for virtual care. Health administrators underscored cost savings and improved patient access as key advantages, though they lacked consistent frameworks to assess virtual care effectiveness. Key barriers included digital literacy, technology constraints, and compensation models not aligned with virtual service provision. Participants called for greater infrastructure investment, technical support, and integrated electronic platforms. These insights may inform policy and practice to strengthen virtual health delivery and support health equity.

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