Co-creating a research roadmap for an innovative virtual health delivery model to recruit and retain health workforce in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

People living in rural, remote, and Indigenous (RRI) communities face a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases yet have limited access to healthcare services. Often, this is due to shortages of healthcare workers in such areas. A rapid shift towards virtual care is markedly influencing how people access healthcare. However, adoption of digital technologies without consideration for health equity risks creating further disparities in health outcomes. Two novel virtual health programs have deployed ‘hybrid’ approaches to health service delivery by blending in-person and team-based virtual care. These services honour relational virtual support built on collaboration, empathy, and cultural safety. A group of researchers, and research-users have formed the Hybrid Care Research Collaborative with the goal of integrating research within ‘hybrid care’ programs to understand the needs of healthcare providers and community members in RRI areas. This data-driven approach will enable the development of interventions and policies incorporating local knowledge and cultural perspectives. Our proposed planning activities will advance interprofessional rural health research and inform a long-term research agenda with community partners.