By Julie Cumming
10 November 2025
A groundbreaking AI-supported telehealth initiative is transforming the recovery process for hip surgery patients in regional Australia. This innovative approach, spearheaded by the Fortius Institute for Musculoskeletal Research (FIMR) in collaboration with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group, aims to reduce travel time and alleviate recovery stress for patients. The project is part of the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program, funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by CSIRO.
Early results from the project indicate faster recovery times and higher patient satisfaction. Encouraged by these outcomes, there are plans to expand the Panacea Pathway Concierge model to include knee replacement care across more hospital networks.
Bridging the Gap in Regional Recovery Care
Hip replacement surgery ranks among the most common orthopaedic procedures in Australia, with demand increasing as the population ages. However, regional patients often face significant barriers to post-operative care, including long travel distances for follow-up appointments, limited access to specialists, and uncertainty about their recovery progress.
Recognizing these challenges, FIMR and the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group identified an opportunity to bridge this gap through the Panacea Pathway. This Concierge Service involves a digitally supported care pathway that delivers a surgeon-approved rapid recovery protocol, facilitated by nurse practitioners directly in patients’ homes.
Co-Designing a Digital Recovery Pathway
To bring this vision to fruition, FIMR partnered with the University of the Sunshine Coast to design a Nurse Concierge healthcare service specifically for hip arthroplasty patients. This collaboration was made possible through the RUIC program, which connects regional universities and small to medium enterprises to foster research partnerships across Queensland.
For the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group, the partnership provided access to critical research expertise and data capabilities. With support from the University of the Sunshine Coast, the team was able to collect a more comprehensive dataset than would have been possible independently, laying the groundwork for training AI tools on real-world clinical evidence.
The resulting clinical care pathway integrates predictive analytics and AI-driven insights to monitor patient progress remotely and identify risks early. This approach not only reduces the burden on patients but also supports better recovery outcomes.
“Seeing our research directly improve patients’ lives has been incredibly rewarding, and this project is demonstrating our approach is leading to safer, better and faster recovery for patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery,” said Professor Nick Ralph from the University of Sunshine Coast.
Professor Ralph added, “Working alongside clinicians through the RUIC partnership meant we could refine our data collection methods in real-time, building the robust dataset needed to develop an evidence-based care pathway.”
Impact and Next Steps
The response to the at-home Nurse Concierge service has been overwhelmingly positive. More than 3,000 at-home clinical appointments have been delivered, significantly reducing travel time and minimizing missed appointments. Patients have reported greater confidence in their recovery, noting the reassurance and continuity of care provided by their Nurse Concierge.
“This project has demonstrated how remote care and digital health tools can reimagine the patient journey,” said Dr. Stephanie Chaousis, Head of Digital Innovation at FIMR. “By combining clinical expertise with data-driven insights, we’re not just improving recovery outcomes – we’re establishing a new standard for musculoskeletal care.”
The data collected through the project has also provided valuable insights to further enhance care for joint replacement patients. Building on the success of the hip surgery pilot, the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group plans to extend the pathway to knee replacement procedures.
This Panacea Pathway model has the potential to scale across hospital networks and inform clinical guidelines, expanding its benefits to more Australians through safer, more accessible recovery pathways.
