Session #2: Providing Oncology Care via Telemedicine

Abstract

Telemedicine, the use of telecommunications technology to provide services to populations with limited access to care, can be beneficial for urban patients for chronic disease management and for medically underserved communities in rural locations where provider shortages exist. Oncologists from The University of Kansas Cancer Center started a ‘tele-oncology’ practice in 1994, initially to provide ongoing cancer care and second opinions for rural cancer patients throughout the state of Kansas. Over time, and at the request of communities in the state, additional telemedicine services were offered to support the care of the cancer patient including: psycho-oncology evaluations, symptom management and palliative care consultations, genetics consultations, survivorship services, cancer care support groups, hospice care, multidisciplinary case conferences, provider continuing education events, and most recently, access to cancer clinical trials. This discussion will review two services, tele-oncology and telehospice, with an emphasis on organizational aspects that must be addressed when launching and running a telemedicine practice