Abstract
PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of telemedicine amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in patients with cancer and assess barriers to its implementation.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Telehealth video visits, using the Houston Methodist MyChart platform, were offered to patients with cancer as an alternative to in-person visits. Reasons given by patients who declined to use video visits were documented, and demographic information was collected from all patients. Surveys were used to assess the levels of satisfaction of treating physicians and patients who agreed to video visits.RESULTS:Of 1,762 patients with cancer who were offered telehealth video visits, 1,477 (83.8%) participated. The patients who declined participation were older (67.7 v 60.2 years; P < .0001), lived in significantly lower-income areas (P = .0021), and were less likely to have commercial insurance (P < .0001) than patients who participated. Most participating patients (92.6%) were satisfied with telehealth video visits. A majority of physicians (65.2%) were also satisfied with its use, and 74% indicated that they would likely use telemedicine in the future. Primary concerns that physicians had in using this technology were inadequate patient interactions and acquisition of medical data, increased potential for missing significant clinical findings, decreased quality of care, and potential medical liability.CONCLUSION:Oncology/hematology patients and their physicians expressed high levels of satisfaction with the use of telehealth video visits. Despite recent advances in technology, there are still opportunities to improve the equal implementation of telemedicine for the medical care of vulnerable older, low-income, and underinsured patient populations.
Highlights
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic,[1] and as a result, regular patient care was affected worldwide
Despite recent advances in technology, there are still opportunities to improve the equal implementation of telemedicine for the medical care of vulnerable older, low-income, and underinsured patient populations
For hematology and oncology patients, this has been specially challenging because these patients are predominantly of older age, are usually male, and have comorbidities that are associated with adverse outcomes from SARSCoV-2 infection.[2,3]
Summary
On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic,[1] and as a result, regular patient care was affected worldwide. Telemedicine has rapidly evolved as a solution to continued patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for hematology and oncology patients. Efforts to effectively incorporate video telehealth visits into regular patient care were impeded by regulatory and reimbursement problems, available technology, and lack of familiarity of both providers and patients with the system. The COVID-19 pandemic and the paramount importance of social distancing, together with regulatory changes in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement, have resulted in the elimination of some of these barriers to safe and effective patient care via telemedicine
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
