Abstract
Background
Despite the existence of universal health care for Canadians, health inequalities
persist and those residing in rural regions experience disparities when accessing
appropriate services. To enhance access, a teletrauma program was implemented in a
rural northern region in western Canada, connecting rural clinicians to urban emergency
physicians and trauma specialists during emergency cases.
Objective
To explore reasons why teletrauma is used in rural contexts from the perspectives
of service users and stakeholders.
Methods
14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders, clinicians (physicians,
specialists), management, and researchers. Interpretive description methodology guided
the study and analysis, and findings were organized thematically.
Results
Teletrauma was used to connect clinicians, manage complex cases when weather or distance
delayed transfer, and to enable appropriate and timely treatment locally. Teletrauma
was more likely to be activated when clinicians were uncomfortable with clinical management,
when relationships were established, and when technology was familiar and easy to
use.
Conclusions
Teletrauma is more than just the technology that is deployed. The establishment of
relationships between teletrauma users was vital to the success of teletrauma. To
design effective, integrated, and sustainable services, rural clinicians must remain
at the center of teletrauma models.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 07, 2021
Accepted:
April 7,
2021
Received in revised form:
April 7,
2021
Received:
January 26,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of College of Emergency Nursing Australasia.
