{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives Access to neurology outpatient services remains a challenge, particularly for those living in rural and remote regions of Australia. This study aims to quantify the travel distances undertaken by patients to attend public neurology outpatient clinics in South Australia, and to characterise those travelling long distances (here defined as >100 km).Methods This multicentre retrospective cohort study collected and analysed data from the state-wide electronic medical record for all public neurology outpatient clinics in South Australia in the 2023/24 financial year. A total of 15899 individuals were identified, and geodesic methods were used to calculate distance travelled.Results Of the total cohort, 1647 patients (10.4%) travelled > 100 km to attend their appointment. Patients within this group were more likely to identify as of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, and were less likely to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan within the preceding 12 months.Conclusion A significant proportion of patients travel long distances for neurology outpatient care, highlighting potential barriers to timely and equitable healthcare access. The lower utilisation of MRI among those traveling >100 km suggests disparities in both access to and ordering of diagnostic services. Targeted strategies, such as telehealth expansion and improved regional imaging availability could create more robust access to neurology services for rural and remote populations.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Intensive Care Unit, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Sarah A Howson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ballarat Base Hospital, Ballarat, VIC, Australia",
        "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Joshua Kovoor"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurology and the Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Ava Farnan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia",
        "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Brandon Stretton"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Aashray Gupta"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurology and the Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Annabel Sorby-Adams"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurology and the Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"
      ],
      "name": "W Taylor Kimberly"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Shaddy El-Masri"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia",
        "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Rudy Goh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurology and the Centre for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA",
        "Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia",
        "Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Bacchi"
    }
  ],
  "title": "3654 Great southern land: long-distance travel is required for neurology appointments",
  "uid": "72bf1d34-eeb2-5d97-ab95-0090f2066318"
}