Telemedicine in oncology offers patients high-end virtual care with quality attention and guidance. The remote treatment is safe and secured and can be made available from patients’ homes, making it a comfortable take on both the health care provider and the receiver end.
The scope of telemedicine in oncology consultancy is huge, it guides the patient in cancer awareness, prevention of cancer spread, diagnosis treatment, educating the patient on various aspects of the oncology, and covers proper counseling sessions and post-treatment follow-ups are all handled by telemedicine platform.
Telemedicine incorporates patients’ awareness and education on oncology
One of the benefits of the telemedicine program is the patient`s awareness and knowledge of oncology. Telemedicine has programs for the patient receiving cancer treatment boosting their confidence and assuring them with a positive mindset to fight the disease. The positive counseling sessions reduce the patient’s anxiety and nervousness about the entire health issue matter.
The awareness program is virtually conducted usually on the patient and their caretakers. The caretakers are well informed and guided regarding the patient`s health care. The psychology of the patient is specifically handled well during this course as to get complete treatment the healthcare receiver should be equally involved in the process along with the healthcare providers.
Patients with better information about their health status are participating well and are more supportive of the treatment than the ones who are not very knowledgeable about their health condition.
Benefits of telemedicine in cancer care
- The hospital visits are not essential thus reducing the travel time.
- The less financial burden on the patient and family as treatment can be taken remotely.
- Telemedicine has the potential to provide quick access and reduce the treatment cost which is good for the treatment receiver.
- Early cancer detection, referral, and follow-up healthcare setup help to plan the treatment in the right direction.
- Telemedicine facilitates the option of multidisciplinary tumor board consultations and receiving expert opinions in complicated cases.
Telemedicine can be used in the following medical scenarios
- Initial consultation
The patient may consult the physician through a telemedicine program for basic consultation or queries, along with the reports which can be checked by the doctors online. One hospital visit for diagnosis and clinical evaluation can be done and later the case can be followed on a virtual platform for further guidance and consultation.
- Follow-up consultation
The healthcare providers along with the hospital authorized staff make sure that the patient is given all the rightful information if the surgery is scheduled for the patient. Prehabilitation protocols are reviewed by the consultants.
Discussing the health insurance or surgery-related points which help the patient to gain a better grip on the situation are all successfully conducted virtually by telemedicine program.
- Appointment for surgery
The patient can be provided information about the admission program and appointments for the surgery can be made through the telemedicine program.
- Post-surgery care
Postoperative monitoring and inspections and physiotherapy can be managed by the telemedicine program. The procedures like tracheostomy tube care, feeding tube, colostomy bag change, food intake guidance, etc can be instructed virtually by the medical advisory team or authorized surgeon.
- Radiation Therapy guidance
Clear instructions on pre-treatment planning, imaging, report analysis, or simulation can be consulted online through the telemedicine program. Patients advised for radiotherapy can be given sessions on pre-anesthasia evaluation and reporting can be handled virtually to avoid hospital visits.
Telemedicine cannot be used in the following medical scenarios
- Emergency attention
No telemedicine consultation can be assured during an emergency situation for a patient`s health condition, without the proper testing and physical attention delicate matters on critical health conditions cannot be resolved on the virtual platform.
- Major surgery decisions
Prompt medical attention should be provided for major surgical decisions and cannot be guided online. Formal written consent and documentation are a must for the medical outcome. No surgical decisions can be taken over virtual consultations patients can be guided and explained the outcomes or points of surgery success online but medical attention which is a necessity post-surgery has to be performed as per clinical protocols.
Oncology telemedicine & remote patient monitoring program
- Eligibility criteria
Setting protocols and guidelines for the eligibility of RPM is very necessary as when it comes to serious diseases like cancer not all patients can be given the same advice or treatment. It is very important to study the case and sensitivity of the patient’s condition and provide telemedicine help.
- Patient care program
Establishing different health care programs for different patients is essential based on their cancer stage. Important information like blood reports, Blood pressure, body weight, oxygen level, or heart rate can be all monitored virtually but all details should be studied thoroughly for every individual before applying to the RPM program.
- Patient awareness program
The best perk of a telemedicine program in oncology is educating the patient and his primary health caregivers on the major lessons on oncology awareness, and preventive steps to take care regarding various stages of cancer. Providing mental strength to corporate during the treatment. Interactive sessions to solve all doubts and patients involved in the recovery tactics.
The healthcare program assigned for the patient from home can be very helpful for the patient as receiving treatment in the comfort zone along with the family or caregivers can prove very positive and increase the quality of life with improved health outcomes.
Teleradiology and cancer care
Radiologic images like CT scans, MRI, X-rays, mammograms, etc are very important reports and plays important role in the RPM program for teleconsultation and virtual counseling.
Teleradiology plays a major role in cancer care in the medical scenarios like cancer stage, cancer diagnosis, treatment design, referral, expert opinion, and case follow-ups.
Anticancer therapy can be assigned to patients with the availability of demographic data, imaging details with proper diagnosis, and clinical biopsy reports. High-quality images and reports are to be exchanged by the experts to provide accurate teleconsultations.
Conclusion
Teleoncology applications of medical telecommunications which include radiology, pathology, etc have major participation in providing quality cancer care, counseling, and offer awareness training programs for the user.
Telemedicine app development with artificial intelligence programs has come up with improved health solutions for everyone from less-developed countries to countries with the best medical infrastructure.
Innovative health solutions have the potential to decrease cancer care inequality amongst the not so affordable group population to the rich and resourceful population across the globe.
