• Alla Melman, Min J Teng, Danielle M Coombs, Qiang Li, Laurent Billot, Thomas Lung, Eileen Rogan, Mona Marabani, Owen Hutchings, Joshua R Zadro, Chris G Maher, Gustavo C Machado, and Back@Home Investigators.
• Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2024 Sep 13.

ObjectivesLow back pain was the sixth most common reason for an ED visit in 2022-2023 in Australia, one-third of these patients were subsequently admitted to hospital. Therefore, we have assessed whether some patients could be diverted to alternate clinical pathways, via admission to a virtual hospital (rpavirtual), and be cared for remotely in their own homes.MethodsEthics approval was granted for protocols X21-0278 & 2021/ETH10967 and X21-0094 & 2021/ETH00591. We conducted a mixed-method process evaluation, using the RE-AIM framework (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance) to answer key questions regarding the Back@Home model of care.ResultsThis preliminary evaluation describes a cohort of the first 50 patients who received care between 13 February and 31 July 2023. The service had high levels of reach and adoption, very low levels of ED representation, and no AEs. Virtual care cost a median of AU$2215 (interquartile range = AU$1724-AU$2855) per admission. Patients admitted virtually had the same high satisfaction with care as traditionally admitted patients and reported less pain and better physical function.ConclusionsPreliminary findings suggest that this model of care is a safe, acceptable, and feasible alternative to hospitalisation for non-serious low back pain, in a select cohort of patients meeting inclusion criteria. Further data collection will inform whether Back@Home has had an impact on length of stay or traditional admission rates.© 2024 The Author(s). Emergency Medicine Australasia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

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