Reducing Health Inequity for Children and Young People in Rural Australia: Are Digital Interventions a Panacea? A Rural Generalist's Commentary

Digital interventions such as telephone and video consultations, online tools, child-friendly robot ward rounds, and digital GP-paediatrician co-consulting models show great promise in helping to bridge the gap in health outcomes for rural Australian CYP. Models of care that utilise digital components can provide care closer to home for rural families; however, research to evaluate the effectiveness of these models in the Australian context is lacking. Infrastructure challenges, cultural considerations, and patient preferences limit the utility of digital interventions for some populations. A panacea? Unfortunately, not; however, these technologies herald an exciting new phase in healthcare for rural Australian CYP, and digital interventions are likely to play an increasingly important role in increasing access to care for this population.