Virtual care and telehealth are transforming the way cancer care is delivered, taking services outside of traditional brick-and-mortar cancer centers and making treatment more accessible and convenient for patients and their families.
Una Hopkins, D.N.P., M.S.N., FNP-BC, NE-BC, RN, FACCC
Director of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, Bronx, N.Y.; President, Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC)
Leading cancer centers are pioneering home-based care models with impressive results. Since 2018, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has provided hospital-at-home care for patients through the Huntsman at Home™ model. This model uses specially trained home health nurses to help patients manage treatment-related symptoms like pain, nausea, vomiting, fevers, and infections. Experienced oncology nurse practitioners oversee patient care and communicate directly with oncologists and the patient’s primary oncology team. Bringing hospital-level care into the home reduced the need for travel and patient wait times.
Since its launch in 2023, Shaw at Home has helped more than 123 patients in rural Colorado, providing 1,427 palliative care visits within homes and community clinics where these patients live and work. These visits have centered around goals of care discussions, advance care planning, transitions of care, symptom management, and psychological and spiritual exploration and support.
Remote patient monitoring
Remote patient monitoring means that cancer care teams track health and treatment progress without patients having to be physically present at the cancer center. Using devices that patients can use at home, like wearable devices or smartphone apps, cancer care teams can monitor vital signs, symptoms, and treatment responses. This real-time information helps cancer care providers catch issues early and adjust care plans promptly, ensuring patients get the best possible treatment while staying at home. Remote patient monitoring can also help lower the cost of care by reducing the need for emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Virtual visits
Virtual visits allow patients to discuss concerns, receive education, and participate in shared decision-making with their cancer care providers — all from the comfort of their home.
Virtual visits help connect patients with specialists like dietitians, genetic counselors, and patient navigators. Through telehealth visits, patients at the Baton Rouge General Medical Pennington Cancer Center easily access nutrition services. Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center developed a Telegenetics Program that allows patients to meet with genetic counselors from the privacy of their homes. At Texas Oncology’s Virtual Care Program, experienced advanced practice providers do genetic counseling, advanced care planning, treatment review, symptom management, and urgent care. In 2015, Sanford Cancer Center’s Virtual Infusion Project found that an oncology-certified nurse practitioner based in a tertiary care infusion center could provide safe, effective oversight to three rural infusion clinics by using telemedicine technology, a dedicated telephone line, and the electronic health record.
These types of virtual visits eliminate the need for long and exhausting trips to the cancer center and are especially beneficial for patients who live in rural areas or those with mobility issues.
Virtual expert consultations and second opinions
Telehealth facilitates collaboration among cancer care providers. Cancer treatment involves a team of specialists, and telehealth platforms enable them to work together more effectively, regardless of their physical location. Virtual tumor boards allow specialists to collaboratively review patient cases, discuss treatment options, and develop a comprehensive care plan. Other programs, like AccessHope, bring together academic programs, community programs, and employers to offer expert case reviews based on evidence-based recommendations. AccessHope’s model enables patients to receive treatment locally while benefiting from the expertise of leading cancer specialists. Kaiser Permanente’s Virtual Cancer Care Center has two main wings: the support wing and the expert wing. The support wing focuses on non-clinical care, providing services such as financial navigation, social support, and mental health resources, while the expert wing offers case reviews, virtual consultations, and second opinions.
The road ahead
Patients should discuss telehealth and virtual care options with their cancer care teams to explore how these services might enhance their cancer care journey. The future of cancer care isn’t just about new treatments — it’s about delivering those treatments in ways that respect patients’ lives, needs, and preferences.
