Abilene Times

Abilene Hematology - Oncology Grp. issued the following announcement on April 11

For the more than 55,000 cancer patients Texas Oncology serves each year, treatment cannot be paused, even during a worldwide health crisis.

The system of cancer treatment centers recently announced a major expansion of their telemedicine services to allow patients to meet virtually with their physicians and other treatment providers.

The new approach now facilitates more than 500 telemedicine visits each day between patients and Texas Oncology’s more than 400 physicians and 150 advanced practice providers.

Debra Patt, M.D., MPH, MBA, is the executive vice president, public policy and strategic initiatives at Texas Oncology, said the organization began telemedicine five years ago in a clinic-to-clinic platform, but recent national and state policy changes due to the coronavirus allow for patients to meet with their physicians virtually.

The technology allows cancer care to continue while patients remain safely in their homes.

The expansion is critical to safeguard the health of the thousands of cancer patients that are at a higher risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus due to their compromised immune systems, she said.

“This is an exciting time to be able to embrace this kind of innovation,” Patt said.

In the past few weeks, progressive policies from President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have allowed for telehealth connections directly with patients.

Patt said this allowed the network of cancer-treatment centers to decrease the volume of patients in their clinics.

Physicians and support staff underwent training on the new platform and existing patients were educated on this option. 

“A lot of patients were concerned about going to the office (due to the virus) and they want to stay at home, but they still want their therapy. Some were worried they might get someone else (other than their usual physician),” Patt said.

All Texas Oncology physicians at the 210 centers around the state have access to the telemedicine platform and patients can meet virtually with their physician.

Telemedicine visits are available during regular business hours and some physicians are also using the platform when they are on call.

When clinically appropriate, telemedicine allows physicians and care teams to check in with patients.

Some patients will still need to come into the medical centers for treatment, lab work or other essential care.

Telemedicine is a safer alternative for appointment such as new patient consultations, follow-up visits and survivorship consultations. 

“Expanding the telemedicine capability that we launched at Texas Oncology five years ago enables our patients to access their physicians from their mobile phones or home computers – without having to come to one of our locations. Robust adoption of this technology is an essential component of our overall approach to continuing vital, timely care, while protecting the safety of our patients and our staff during the COVID-19 health crisis,” said Patt.

A virtual patient experience can be very similar to an in-person office visit, she said.

A video conferencing app can be easily downloaded, and the physicians and care team can see the patient, share files, review lab results and visit with family members.

Patients who are using the new telemedicine platform love its convenience and it has been very well received, Patt reports.

“We are proud of embracing this innovation and I am grateful to the leadership that put forth this policy so we can continue to provide high-quality care to see Texans through this crisis,” Patt said.

The policies that allow telemedicine directly between patients and their doctors is only allowed legally through the pandemic, however, policies may change in the future to make direct telemedicine a permanent option.

For now, Patt said, Texas Oncology is doing the right thing for their patients to get them through this crisis.

More information about Texas Oncology’s telemedicine options is on their website: https://www.texasoncology.com/services-and-treatments/medical-services-technologies/telemedicine.

Original source can be found here.