Health Economic Evaluation and Patient Perspectives on a Virtual Clinic: Advancing Digital Remote Care in Health Care.

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Materials and methods: 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, CO₂ emissions, and time burdens for in-clinic consultations vs a mixed care pathway across three scenarios of VRCS adoption (20%, 50%, and 100%).

Results: 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, CO₂ 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 CO₂ 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.

Discussion: 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 CO₂ emissions aligns with global sustainability goals. However, barriers such as digital literacy and data privacy require further attention to ensure equitable access.

Conclusions: 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.