What to know about telemedicine and telehealth for cancer treatment

Cancer treatment involves a lot of appointments—not only for things like IV infusions or radiation treatment, but also touching base with your oncology nurses, medication adjustments with your physician, or check-ins with social workers and pharmacists. This can be overwhelming in and of itself, but factor in fatigue from treatment and a commute to and from the appointment, and some days can feel outright impossible.

To alleviate some of this burden, your cancer care team may recommend some appointments be held via telemedicine or telehealth. Also known as “virtual appointments,” telemedicine involves the use of technology (computers, smartphone, and/or messaging systems) to provide clinical services to patients without an in-person visit. In cancer care, telemedicine technology can be used for follow-up visits, management of chronic conditions, medication management, specialist consultation and a host of other clinical services. Telehealth refers to a broader scope of services, such as nutrition counseling, mental health consultations, or support groups.

Doing these virtual appointments remotely, via secure video and audio connections, allows you to check in with your doctor from the comfort of your home. In addition to saving you the time and stress of traveling to an in-person appointment, telemedicine can also help you avoid hospitals and clinics during times when you may be immunocompromised. Virtual options can’t be used for all appointments—there will still be times when your care team will want you to come in, especially for things like treatments and tests—but it can help you cut down on the number of in-person visits.

Is telemedicine safe and secure?

If you’re concerned about privacy during your telemedicine or telehealth visits, know that all electronic communication with your cancer care team is subject to the same patient privacy (HIPAA) rules as an in-person medical appointment. To protect your privacy, your appointment will not take place over consumer video services, like Skype and Facetime. Instead, providers must choose technology that uses data encryption to protect patient data. Before your appointment, you should receive a link to your telemedicine portal— usually a video conference or messaging platform—that has been built for privacy and security. These portals are designed to be easy to use, but if you have questions, ask your cancer care center if they provide tech support for new users.

What will my telemedicine appointment be like?

A telemedicine video call will be quite similar to an in-person appointment, except instead of entering a waiting room at a clinic, you’ll click on a link to a video call or messaging system. Your care provider will have questions about what you’ve been doing, how you’ve been feeling, and if you’ve experienced any changes in your health since your last visit. You may have questions, too, and this is the time to ask them, just like an in-person appointment.

Some providers will supply you with additional technology to gather health data. These smart devices can connect over the internet to monitor various health markers like blood pressure and weight, which are transmitted to an app for your doctor to view. You might also have data from a smartwatch or fitness tracker, which you can share with your doctor as well.

If you’d like a caregiver or member of your support network to attend the appointment as well, ask if the telehealth platform can have multiple people access the video call or if they will need to use the same device as you.

Are telemedicine appointments accessible for people with disabilities?

Telemedicine and telehealth appointments must comply with federal disability discrimination laws like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That means virtual appointment platforms should be compatible with screen readers and offer large text sizing for people who are blind and visually-impaired, and deaf and hard-of-hearing people should be provided with captions or a sign language interpreter, free of charge. If you require accommodations for a video call or messaging platform, let your cancer care team know ahead of time so they can best serve you.

Will my insurance cover telemedicine visits?

The amount providers are reimbursed for telemedicine will vary depending on a state’s legislation. Some states specifically mandate that private insurance reimburse the same amount for telemedicine as if the service was provided in-person. However, most states with reimbursement mandates leave this determination up to the payers, though many private payers still reimburse at levels equivalent to in-person visits. Medicare and Medicaid will cover certain telehealth and telemedicine visits as well. Before your virtual appointment, check with your insurance provider to review their policy on reimbursement for telehealth and telemedicine visits.

Tips for a successful telehealth or telemedicine video call

1. Connect with the right equipment. You don’t need much for a video call: just a device (a fully-charged smartphone, tablet, or computer) with a built-in camera and a strong internet or phone signal. You do not need to download additional security software; your provider’s telehealth platform will have built-in security measures to protect your privacy.
2. Find a quiet, well-lit place for your call. Clear communication is so important on a telemedicine call! Before you click the link to a video call with a member of your care team, find a quiet place without lots of background noise or distraction, which will allow you to hear and be heard. Select a spot with good lighting that will allow your doctor to see you clearly. Avoid sitting with your back to a lamp, window, or open door, which can darken your face on a video call.
3. Log in to your appointment five minutes early. This will let you ensure your device, audio, and video are working properly, and to troubleshoot if they’re not. Check your sound, volume, and microphone to ensure nothing is muted. If you’re using a smartphone, close all other apps to make your device faster.
4. Don’t multitask. It’s not recommended to do a telemedicine visit while driving. In addition to the obvious safety concerns, there is the risk of your video call being disrupted or dropped by a weak signal when driving through areas with poor cell phone coverage.
5. Write down specific questions or concerns before your appointment. Use our smartphone app to write down anything you’d like to discuss with your provider prior to the appointment, including medication side effects.
6. Have your medication list at hand. Knowing what you’re taking (and when you’re taking it) can be very helpful information for your cancer care team. Your medication list should include prescriptions from all care providers (including those outside of your oncology team), over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. For easy access, keep and maintain this list in our smartphone app.
7. Before logging out, ask for a summary. If you have an online patient portal, your provider may be able to upload a written summary with important details of the visit. If that isn’t an option, spend a minute at the end of the call recapping what you understood, and ask if you got it all right.

Telehealth and telemedicine appointments can be a safe and efficient way to connect with your cancer care team, and can be used to perform many of the same functions as an in-person visit. These video calls and online platforms make it easier than ever to connect with providers from the comfort of your home.

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