Advances in digital technology continue to transform healthcare delivery. From electronic health records and patient portals to remote monitoring and virtual tumor boards, telehealth and telemedicine have become a core component of care.
Today, telehealth encompasses a wide range of tools and services, including video and audio visits, remote diagnostics, digital imaging, e-health applications, patient engagement platforms, continuing medical education, nursing call centers, and more. While “telemedicine” often refers to clinical care at a distance, “telehealth” is now recognized as the broader term, covering both clinical and non-clinical services. Emerging innovations, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and behavioral insights, are further expanding the scope of telehealth.
According to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), "the term [telehealth] itself can evoke a limited view of what telehealth does. What was, until recently, referred to as telemedicine now encompasses a much broader array of services and technologies – AI, virtual reality and behavioral economics are a few examples that come to mind. . . . "
Although the potential of telehealth has been recognized for decades, the COVID-19 public health emergency accelerated adoption by temporarily lifting long-standing barriers around regulation, reimbursement, and provider or patient hesitancy. Since then, health systems, hospitals, and cancer programs have proven the value of telehealth in supporting access, continuity of care, and patient engagement—particularly in oncology, where coordinated communication and timely follow-up are critical.
ACCC documented successes in the cancer care community’s rapid adoption of telehealth to maintain patient care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. To obtain multiple perspectives on best practices in team-based telehealth delivery, ACCC conducted multidisciplinary focus groups with three member sites.
ACCC also conducted interviews with oncology professionals across the country—including a financial advocate, an information technology (IT) professional, a nurse, an oncologist, a pharmacist, and social workers—to learn how their roles were impacted by—and adapted to—the growing need for telehealth services since the onset of the pandemic.
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) commends Congress for including the extension of Medicare telehealth waivers in fiscal year 2022 omnibus legislation passed by both chambers this week.
The Affordable Connectivity Program ends today, leaving 1 in 6 American households without access to high-speed internet.
BeiGene hosted its second annual Talk About It: Cancer and Mental Health LinkedIn Live event. This year’s theme focused on bridging cancer centers and community partners to help meet acute needs.
In recognition of January as Cervical Health Awareness Month, ACCCBuzz highlights cervical cancer among the American Indian and Alaska Native population.
This is the second post of a three-part series on Modern Healthcare’s Social Determinants of Health Symposium.
Sutter Health details innovative programs designed to drive health equity at the most recent Modern Healthcare Social Determinants of Health Symposium.
For their final policy summit of 2023, the NCCN invited multidisciplinary stakeholders to Washington D.C. for a discussion focused on patients with cancer receiving comprehensive and equitable care.
One serious, unwanted side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the potential for substantial consequences for cancer outcomes due to delayed access to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Hear from Dr. Debra Patt, the author of a study which detected a substantial decrease (among American seniors) in cancer screenings, visits, therapy, and surgeries.
We'll discuss the telehealth regulatory and policy changes enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, what may change in 2021, and what’s likely to remain the same regarding the reimbursement of remote care.
Learn how genetic healthcare services have adapted to virtual care delivery, and what challenges face its widespread use after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
On this episode of CANCER BUZZ, we discuss how healthcare providers and policymakers can work together to pave the future of telehealth beyond the current public health emergency.
Genetic counselors—as members of the cancer care team—can help patients better understand their cancer diagnosis, make informed treatment decisions, and navigate the financial costs of testing.
In this episode, we talk with an experienced cancer center information technology (IT) professional about how the role of the IT professional in quality, patient-centered cancer care delivery and what lies ahead.
Highlands Oncology Group took key steps toward implementing an ePRO platform aimed at reducing emergency department utilization and unplanned hospitalization, while improving the patient’s quality of life.
Take a deep dive into 4 topics discussed during a series of interactive sessions at the ACCC 49th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (#AMCCBS).