Impact of state telehealth policies on telehealth use among patients with newly diagnosed cancer

Reflections on the state of telehealth and cancer care research and future directions

Telemedicine has routinely been used in cancer care delivery for the past 3 years. The current state of digital health provides convenience and efficiency for both health-care professional and patient, but challenges exist in equitable access to virtual services. As increasingly newer technologies are added to telehealth platforms, it is essential to eliminate barriers to access through technical, procedural, and legislative improvements. Moving forward, implementation of new strategies can help eliminate disparities in virtual cancer care, facilitate delivery of treatment in the home, and improve real-time data collection for patient safety and clinical trial participation. The ultimate goal will be to extend high-quality survival for all patients with cancer through improved digital delivery of cancer care.

Telehealth and Technology: New Directions in Cancer Care

ABSTRACT

Telehealth is a broad concept that refers to any delivery of health care in real time using technologies to connect people or information that are not in the same physical location. Until fairly recently, telehealth was more aspiration than reality. This situation changed radically due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a near-overnight inability for patients to be seen for routine management of chronic health conditions, including those with cancer. The purpose of this brief narrative review is to outline some areas where emerging and future technology may allow for innovations with specific implications for people with a current or past diagnosis of cancer, including underserved and/or historically excluded populations. Specific topics of telehealth are broadly covered in other areas of the special issue.