Telehealth through the pandemic at a safety net hospital: observations and next steps for cancer care delivery

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

William Walsh¹  Jonathan Gerber¹  Jan Cerny¹  Kriti Mittal¹  Alice Kennedy¹  Shyam Patel¹  Michelle Carpentier²  Hannah Adeyinka²  Erin Thomas³ 

[1] Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States;Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, United States;Hospital Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States;

关键词: telehealth;    cancer care;    pandemic;    COVID-19;    safety net hospital;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1186350

 received in 2023-03-14, accepted in 2023-05-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The COVID-19 pandemic revolutionized cancer care delivery leading to rapid adoption of digital technology for telehealth in the United States. In this study, we describe telehealth utilization trends across the three largest waves of the pandemic at a safety net academic center. We also provide a perspective on lessons learnt and our vision for cancer care delivery using digital technology in the near future. The integration of interpreter services within the video platform and its integration within the electronic medical record system is crucial for safety net institutes that service a diverse patient population. Pay-parity for telehealth, especially ongoing support for audio-only visits, will be critical in overcoming health disparities for patients without access to smartphone technology. Use of telehealth in clinical trials, widespread adoption of hospital at home programs, electronic consults for rapid access, and structured telehealth slots in clinic templates will be crucial in making cancer care more equitable and efficient.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Thomas, Kennedy, Walsh, Carpentier, Adeyinka, Patel, Gerber, Cerny and Mittal.