Referral patterns and consultation locations for a novel palliative care telehealth service

Background The optimal location to conduct telehealth consultations for rural Australian palliative patients was unclear prior to starting a novel palliative telehealth service in Queensland. The present study sought to collect data which may suggest the best location for such consultations so that future service provision can be planned accordingly. Methods A retrospective review of the referral patterns and demographic data between March 2020 and November 2020 was undertaken with a focus on the number of referrals, location of consultations, and the source of referrals. Results 153 referrals resulted in 526 unique consultations. All referrals in the first month came from the local public hospital. After 4 months, public hospital referrals and private family doctor referrals accounted for 30% and 50% respectively. The proportion of telehealth consultations delivered in the patient’s home increased throughout the eight-month period. There was no obvious relationship between referral source and consultation location. Conclusion The patient’s home was the preferred location for all specialist telehealth care and patient preference was the main determinant of consult location. Further research should involve qualitative analysis of these factors to optimize the delivery of this service and the design of other similar services.