Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE): The patient perspective of continuous remote monitoring in acute care
East Metropolitan Health Service
$14,907
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Ms Rebecca Crellin
Co-Investigators: Mr Jonathan Burcham, Mr Carl Yulie, A/Prof Vicki Patton
RPH Research Foundation has awarded a grant to Royal Perth Hospital Nurse Director, Community Care and Virtual Care Innovation Directorate, Mrs Rebecca Crellin, to investigate how patients experience virtual monitoring through the Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE) program - an innovative model of care introduced at Royal Perth Hospital in 2020.
HIVE uses real-time vital sign monitoring to support critical patient care, allowing clinical teams to detect early signs of deterioration and respond quickly. While its clinical impact is well established, Mrs Crellin’s study will focus on the patient experience — exploring perceptions of privacy, autonomy, emotional wellbeing, and the nature of interaction with remote care teams.
To gather these insights, her research will combine translated surveys with in-depth interviews. Importantly, former HIVE patients will help shape the questions and guide how results are shared.
The findings will offer more than just data. They’ll contribute to evidence-based decision-making about how virtual care is delivered — ensuring that models like HIVE remain ethical, effective, and truly patient-centred.