Assessing Video-based Cross-sectorial Virtual Conferencing – a case study of third space learning between different contexts of care for the complex patient

Background: ‘The Body Multiple: Ontology in Medical Practice’ is the title of an influential ethnographic study of health care practices. As the title conveys, disease is not just one thing, but have different meanings related to the various medical practices involved, and thus the ontology of the body becomes multiple! As in the case of patients with multi-morbidities and chronic diseases (MCD), the multiplicity of their bodily illnesses turn them into complex patients, involving many health care practices. Providing care to frail elderly with MCD is a ‘wicket’ problem because of the clinical complexity, the social complexity and the system complexity that follow from the many care needs. The collaboration between the providers, patient and relatives are pushed to its edges. Expanded coordination of the care paths of frail elderly is called for to make transitions safer, alongside with the acknowledgement of patient involvement in ‘circular care’ arrangements, where the sectors collaborate on the MCD patients’ ongoing needs (4).