INNV-22. PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF UTILIZATION OF TELEMEDICINE IN NEURO-ONCOLOGY

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE to offer neuro-oncology care to patients in rural/suburban settings that may not otherwise have access to urban amenities, specialists, and clinical trials. To test the feasibility of telemedicine in Neuro-Oncology by measuring cost savings, travel time savings, and burden of care. To screen patients for clinical trials. BACKGROUND Neuro-Oncology services are primarily available only at tertiary care hospitals. This increases the burden of care for patients who live in suburban and rural areas, as they have to travel long distances for their care. Hence, some families and patients do not seek care as travel time increases the stress on patients and their caretakers who are already dealing with the devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor. Similarly, these patient groups do not have access to clinical trials. METHODS To help ease above hardships on patients, we built a telemedicine Neuro-Oncology program that is studying the quality of care compared with daily routine visits in the cancer center. We are enrolling 30 patients in each cohort of the study, cohort A, telemedicine visits and cohort B, regular clinic visits for a total of 60 patients after obtaining written consent. We are providing them survey identifying quality measures of care (24 questions). The survey is provided to the patients and their caregivers at the end of their visit. RESULTS Survey answers are inputted into Survey Monkey. After the completion of 60 total patient visits, surveys will be evaluated and the results will be analyzed. CONCLUSION We are looking for the long-term feasibility of utilizing telemedicine care in rural/suburban settings for Neuro-Oncology patients. We anticipate that there will be cost savings, travel time savings and reduction in burden of care without compromising patient satisfaction or quality of care provided. We are also studying the feasibility of screening patients for clinical trials.