Understanding the Experiences of Rural- and Remote-Living Patients Accessing Sub-Acute Care in Queensland: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis

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Published 28th February 2023

This qualitative evaluation draws on the transition experiences of sub-acute patients receiving care in regional, rural, and remote locations across Central and North-West Queensland, exploring these patients’ experiences of client-centeredness and continuity of care, and identifying common challenges faced by rural and remote patients accessing and transitioning to and through sub-acute care in a non-metropolitan context. The findings suggest important implications for health care providers, including the need to implement earlier and more frequent opportunities for patient involvement throughout the sub-acute journey. The results also offer a unique perspective on the way that continuity of care is experienced and conceptualized by rural and remote patients, suggesting a revision of what is required to achieve equitable care continuity for rural and remote residents receiving care far from home.

This publication is related to the Transition2Sub-Acute (T2SA) project, which involved Jessica O'Loghlen and Prof Michele Foster in partnership with the Allied Health Professions' Office of Queensland, Clinical Excellence Queensland.

The authors acknowledge the contribution of the following allied health professionals, who were involved in this research project – Ilsa Nielsen, Sandra Phillips, Leigh Burton, Ella Dunsford, Struan Ferguson, Sarah Bohan and Liza-Jane McBride. The authors also wish to thank the participants for this project, particularly the consumers who accessed the Queensland Health sub-acute services.

This project was funded by the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland, Clinical Excellence Queensland. Representatives from the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland were also subsequently involved in the design of the study, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, and writing of this article for submission.

Authors

Michele Foster

Honorary Adjunct Professor

Jessica O'Loghlen