Abstract
Background: Social determinants of health directly affect cancer survival. Driven by advances in technology and recent demands due to COVID-19, telemedicine has the ability to improve patient access to care, lower health care costs, and increase workflow efficiency. The role of telemedicine in radiation oncology is not established.Materials and Methods: We conducted an IRB-approved pilot trial using a telehealth platform for the first post-radiation visit in patients with any cancer diagnosis. The primary endpoint was feasibility of using telehealth defined by completion of five telehealth visits per month in a single department. Secondary endpoints included the ability to assess patients appropriately, patient and physician satisfaction. Physicians were surveyed again during the pandemic to determine whether viewpoints changed.Results: Between May 27, 2016 and August 1, 2018, 37 patients were enrolled in the Telehealth in Post-operative Radiation Therapy (TelePORT) trial, with 24 evaluable patients who completed their scheduled telehealth visit. On average, 1.4 patients were accrued per month. All patients were satisfied with their care, had enough time with their physician and 85.7% believed the telehealth communication was excellent. All physicians were able to accurately assess the patient's symptoms via telehealth, whereas 82.3% felt they could accurately assess treatment-related toxicity. Physicians assessing skin toxicity from breast radiation were those who did not feel they were able to assess toxicity.Discussion and Conclusions: Both health care providers and patients have identified telemedicine as a suitable platform for radiation oncology visits. Although there are limitations, telemedicine has significant potential for increasing access of cancer care delivery in radiation oncology.
Highlights
Creative solutions to increase patients’ access to health care have begun to emerge
Telemedicine, which refers to the use of communications technology to deliver health care services to patients who may be limited in their ability to have office-based visits, is a potential solution.[1]
We look at the implementation of telemedicine follow-up in patients who have undergone radiotherapy, focusing on the first post-treatment visit
Summary
Telemedicine, which refers to the use of communications technology to deliver health care services to patients who may be limited in their ability to have office-based visits, is a potential solution.[1] Implementing technology platforms may eliminate the need for some patients to be physically present in clinic. Interest in the use of telemedicine has steadily grown due to the potential to lower health care costs, improve patient access to care, and increase clinic efficiency. Driven by advances in technology and recent demands due to COVID-19, telemedicine has the ability to improve patient access to care, lower health care costs, and increase workflow efficiency. Discussion and Conclusions: Both health care providers and patients have identified telemedicine as a suitable platform for radiation oncology visits. Telemedicine has significant potential for increasing access of cancer care delivery in radiation oncology
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