Expanding ILD Care Access Through Shared Models and Telehealth: Yet Khor, MD, PhD

Why It Matters

Expanding shared‑care and telehealth improves equity, accelerates trial participation, and can lower mortality for ILD patients across underserved regions.

Key Takeaways

• Shared‑care rotates ILD patients between tertiary and community pulmonologists quarterly
• Telehealth reduces travel barriers but may widen digital‑access gaps in rural areas
• Patient awareness is the biggest obstacle to enrolling in ILD clinical trials
• Advocacy partnerships can influence policy to fund oxygen and supportive therapies
• Hybrid care blends virtual visits with face‑to‑face exams for optimal patient experience

Pulse Analysis

The growing prevalence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis has exposed stark disparities in specialist access. While tertiary centers in cities like Melbourne host cutting‑edge research and treatment, the majority of patients live far from these hubs. A shared‑care framework—where community pulmonologists co‑manage patients on a quarterly basis—offers a pragmatic solution. By embedding specialist protocols into local practice, clinicians gain confidence prescribing antifibrotics and managing complications, while patients benefit from proximity and continuity of care.

Telehealth surged during the COVID‑19 pandemic and now serves as a critical conduit for remote ILD management. Virtual visits eliminate costly travel, enable frequent monitoring of disease progression, and facilitate rapid triage to tertiary services when needed. However, the digital divide remains a barrier; rural clinics with limited broadband cannot fully leverage these tools, risking a new layer of inequity. A hybrid approach that blends telehealth with in‑person assessments ensures that patients receive comprehensive evaluations, including physical exams that remain essential for nuanced symptom discussion.

Beyond delivery models, expanding trial enrollment hinges on patient awareness. Most phase 2 and 3 studies are anchored in academic hospitals, leaving a vast pool of eligible patients uninformed. Collaboration with patient advocacy groups can amplify outreach, educate communities about emerging therapies, and pressure policymakers to standardize funding for supportive interventions like home oxygen. Together, shared‑care, digital health, and advocacy form a triad that can democratize ILD treatment and improve outcomes nationwide.