Reimagining remote care with Australia’s first virtual hospital

Australia’s first virtual hospital is taking on a new role as a national testbed for advancing the future of patient-facing apps in virtual care models.

A landmark research initiative led by Macquarie University in partnership with the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC), Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), and Alcidion, will use rpavirtual as a living laboratory to better understand and optimise how digital tools are used in remote patient monitoring.

While the COVID-19 pandemic propelled virtual care into the spotlight, embedding it as a reliable, effective, and scalable long-term care model remains a significant challenge. This new collaboration aims to tackle that challenge head-on, bridging the knowledge gap with robust, patient-centred research.

Launched in 2020, rpavirtual was a trailblazer in delivering hospital-grade care to patients in the comfort of their homes. It was also among the first in the country to implement a dedicated app for monitoring patients with acute respiratory conditions. Now, that same innovation will undergo critical evaluation to identify what works and what needs refinement when it comes to digital engagement in care delivery.

“Our team of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals support patients 24/7, ensuring they receive hospital-level care when and where they need it,” said Associate Professor Angus Ritchie, Clinical Director at SLHD. “This project’s findings will help to ensure virtual hospital services remain sustainable and patient-centred without compromising quality, safety, or clinical outcomes.”

Associate Professor Annie Lau from Macquarie University’s Australian Institute of Health Innovation will lead the project. Her team will apply a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the usability, uptake, and impact of patient-facing apps in virtual hospital settings.

“The research will employ a mixed-methods approach to evaluate its impact and analyse patient-reported experiences. We will measure models of care outcomes, identify factors that affect app uptake in virtual hospital service delivery,” said Dr Lau.

The research will be grounded in real-world user insights, informing not only technical improvements to the app itself but also broader recommendations for integrating digital tools into virtual care workflows.

Annette Schmiede, CEO of the DHCRC, emphasised the project’s strategic significance, saying “This project is an exciting opportunity to address gaps in evidence and provide practical solutions to enhance virtual hospital care for the long term.”

Kate Quirke, Managing Director at Alcidion, added “By collaborating with healthcare providers and leveraging digital tools like patient-facing apps, we can advance the way virtual hospital services operate, ensuring they deliver high-quality care and positive patient experiences.”

The outcomes of the study will extend beyond respiratory care, laying the groundwork for broader applications of patient-facing technologies across multiple clinical pathways and setting a precedent for virtual hospital innovation, both in Australia and globally.

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