%0 Journal Article
%T Telemedicine in Cancer Care
%A Ana Maria Lopez
%A S. Joseph Sirintrapun
%J About the Ed Book | ASCO Educational Book
%D 2018
%R https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_200141
%X Telemedicine uses telecommunications technology as a tool to deliver health care to populations with limited access to care.1 Initially developed to assist in the care of astronauts in space, telemedicine technology was soon being adapted and studied to increase access to care for populations on Earth.2 Since the demonstration projects in the 1970s, access to telemedicine technology has expanded with greater portability, improved usability, lower costs, and higher quality. From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration¡¯s singular STARPAHC Project to the myriad of small, large, freestanding, academic, commercial, direct-to-consumer telemedicine services available in the United States today, telemedicine has been tested in multiple clinical settings. Most studies demonstrate at least equivalency to in-person care and high levels of patient and health professional satisfaction.3,4 Some studies demonstrate improved outcomes compared with in-person care.5 These factors have fueled ongoing interest in improving health care delivery by integrating teleconsultations with traditional in-person clinical care. TELEMEDICINE Section: ChooseTop of pageAbstractTELEMEDICINE <<TELEONCOLOGYTELEPATHOLOGY: A CRITICAL...MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR C...POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION...FUTURE DIRECTIONSReferences Definitions and History Approach. Telemedicine services may use a variety of telecommunications technology to support clinical care. There are two primary approaches to telemedicine services: synchronous or asynchronous format. The patient and consultant may engage virtually and synchronously or asynchronously. The former uses fully interactive video technology in real time. The latter stores and forward or transmits clinical data elements, such as medical reports, images, and video recordings, to be interpreted at a later time. This latter approach is known as ¡°store-forward.¡± Telemedicine services, including teleoncology, may use one or both of these formats with or without intermittent in-person consultations based on clinical needs. The physical exam may be accomplished virtually, with the exception of palpation, and/or data may be gathered by the local clinician and relayed to the teleconsultant or teleoncologist. Given the skills necessary for teleconsultation, team-based health professional education regarding the delivery of telemedicine services is essential for the teleconsultation team. Patient education and orientation regarding telemedicine and what to expect promote patient-centered care and engagement.6 TELEONCOLOGY Section: ChooseTop of
%U http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/EDBK_200141