{"id":40688,"date":"2022-11-01T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T16:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtelehealth.com\/?p=40688"},"modified":"2022-11-01T12:40:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T16:40:00","slug":"virtual-care-for-people-with-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/virtual-care-for-people-with-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtual care for people with cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The internet, COVID-19 pandemic and increased access to smartphones and laptops has changed the way people shop, bank, travel and work. It also has changed how people manage their health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telehealth, including telemedicine and virtual visits, uses digital information and communication technologies to access health care services remotely and manage your health care. It’s often thought of as remote communication or monitoring between a health care team and the patient or caregiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asynchronous and synchronous communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some interactions are asynchronous, meaning communication that doesn’t happen at the same time. For example, a patient sends a message through an online portal and the health care team responds at a different time. Or a patient completing an online survey about symptoms to update the health care team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remote monitoring, which is asynchronous technology that collects and reports temperature, weight and other vital signs, allows the health care team to check a patient’s status without a visit to a health care facility. Any identified problems are usually addressed quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast to these examples are synchronous interactions, in which the patient and health care team communicate in real time. A telephone conversation is synchronous communication and an important part of a health care journey. Virtual visits use online technology to allow the patient and team to see and hear each other in real time. These synchronous communication telehealth options extend health care to meet patient needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telehealth options are available for general health care, acute needs or specific conditions. Virtual visits became common because of the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years later, oncology professionals recommend telehealth interactions when appropriate for the patient or the caregiving team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telehealth and cancer care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For many people with cancer or malignant diagnosis, telehealth has become an important part of their care. It may be appropriate for medical oncology, hematology, consultations, second opinion consultations and surgical consultations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many patients use portal online messages throughout their cancer journeys to communicate medication side effects, changes in condition or send questions to the health care team. Other common telehealth options during cancer care are virtual visits and telephone conversations. These extend care and options for patients, regardless of geography. Occasionally, remote monitoring is part of cancer treatment plans as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some appointments and treatments cannot be conducted virtually. The health care team recommends in-person or virtual visits based on the needs and treatment plan for each patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telehealth benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are multiple benefits of telehealth for all patients, but especially for people with a chronic or complex health condition, such as cancer, including:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n