Stakeholders’ perspectives of mobile x-ray services in support of healthcare-in-place in residential aged care facilities: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: There is interest in reducing avoidable emergency department presentations from residential aged care facilities (RACF). Mobile x-ray services may enable the delivery of healthcare in residential aged care facilities. Accordingly, the Australian Government in November 2019 introduced a Medicare Benefit Schedule rebate providing for a ‘call-out’ fee payable to radiology service providers. This study aims to understand stakeholder perspectives on the benefits of mobile x-ray services and the factors influencing their adoption by RACFs. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 with a range of stakeholders involved in healthcare delivery to residents: a) general practitioners; b) emergency department clinicians; c) paramedic clinicians; d) a hospital avoidance clinician; e) radiology clinicians and managers; and f) aged care clinicians and managers. Thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Mobile x-ray services were considered valuable for RACF residents. Lack of timely general practitioner in-person assessment and referral, as well as staffing deficits in residential aged care facilities, reduces optimal use of mobile x-ray services and results in potentially unnecessary hospital transfers. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mobile x-ray services, as a hospital avoidance strategy, depends on the capacity of RACFs to provide more complex healthcare-in-place. However, this requires greater access to general practitioners for in-person assessment and referral, adequate staffing numbers and appropriately skilled nursing staff within residential aged care facilities.