Consultation via telemedicine and access to operative care for patients with head and neck cancer in a Veterans Health Administration population

Abstract

A telemedicine model enables timely access to surgical care and permits considerable savings among select VHA patients with head and neck cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 925-929, 2016.

Telemedicine in otolaryngology outpatient setting—single Center Head and Neck Surgery experience

“…Current applications allow for video‐otoscopy, videoendoscopy, remote testing of cochlear implants, and overall improved ease and access of teleconferencing . Additionally, telemedicine has been employed in a variety of clinical settings, from the initial patient encounter to preoperative and postoperative visits …”

Randomized controlled trial of a multisite speech pathology telepractice service providing swallowing and communication intervention to patients with head and neck cancer: Evaluation of service outcomes

“…Telepractice offers a potential solution to this issue by utilizing videoconferencing to provide real‐time clinical consultation between the patient and local clinician at the regional facility and the specialist clinician at the cancer center . To date, studies exploring the use of telepractice to support the delivery of speech pathology intervention to patients with head and neck cancer have been limited to validation or small‐scale feasibility trials.…”

“…Telepractice offers a potential solution to this issue by utilizing videoconferencing to provide real-time clinical consultation between the patient and local clinician at the regional facility and the specialist clinician at the cancer center. 22,24,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] To date, studies exploring the use of telepractice to support the delivery of speech pathology intervention to patients with head and neck cancer have been limited to validation or small-scale feasibility trials. An initial case series described the use of telepractice to support swallowing and communication management directed by a remote specialist clinician to patients with head and neck cancer supported by their local speech pathologist, nurse, and/or carer.…”

Cost analysis of a speech pathology synchronous telepractice service for patients with head and neck cancer

“…Due to the wide range of resources, specialist staff, and associated health service costs necessary to deliver intervention, head and neck cancer services are commonly rationalized to metropolitan cancer centers more capable of supporting the significant clinical and financial commitment required to deliver this expert care . Unfortunately, due to geographical distance, patients living in regional, rural, and remote areas do not have equal access to services and this consequently leads to additional financial burden for patients and their families due to increased travel and accommodation costs, leave from work, and/or carer costs . These expenses are incurred along the continuum of care in which regular ongoing specialist medical, nursing, and allied health appointments are required to maximize rehabilitation efforts and optimize patient outcomes .…”

“…remote areas do not have equal access to services and this consequently leads to additional financial burden for patients and their families due to increased travel and accommodation costs, leave from work, and/or carer costs. 1,[8][9][10][11] These expenses are incurred along the continuum of care in which regular ongoing specialist medical, nursing, and allied health appointments are required to maximize rehabilitation efforts and optimize patient outcomes. 4,[12][13][14] Although some reimbursement may be provided by health services or through some private insurance schemes, the outstanding and ongoing financial commitment of cancer treatment ensues significant stress and emotional burden for patients and their family.…”