Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Telehealth in Oncology: ASCO Standards and Practice Recommendations (#4)

Robin Zon 1
  1. ASCO, Niles, MI, United States

Telemedicine, also commonly referred to as telehealth, can increase access to care for patients with cancer while reducing treatment burden and disruption to patients. Providers who use telemedicine have reported that its benefits include decreased travel time for patients, immediate access to care, early detection of health issues and complications, increased patient autonomy, reduced caregiver burden, and increased patient satisfaction with healthcare. Additionally, virtual visits can provide effective follow-up and enhanced convenience for patients compared with traditional office visits. Telehealth interventions in chronic disease management have been shown to lead to a decline in hospital admissions and re-admissions, length of hospital stays, emergency department visits, and a reduction in mortality.  With this in mind, ASCO has developed standards to guide appropriate use and implementation of telehealth in practice.