Models of Care Toolkit
Virtual care
Patients in rural and remote communities often travel great distances to access cancer services. In some cases, patients are forced to make treatment decisions based on factors such as the ability to arrange childcare for long periods of time, or to take extended time off work.
Appropriate use of virtual care and digital health solutions reduces the burden of treatment on patients and caregivers. It is more efficient for patients to manage medical appointments, monitor their health, and reduces challenges to access care. Virtual clinics can also slow the spread of secondary infections for cancer patients by keeping them out of high-risk areas such as waiting rooms.
Historically, there have been many perceived barriers to virtual appointments, such as patient privacy and reasonable clinician compensation. Opportunities to use virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic have improved usability and acceptance. Despite advances, patients may live in areas without adequate internet access which makes virtual care more challenging.
Digital health solutions – helping patients in real time
Digital health solutions such as patient-facing software applications present an opportunity to address unmet needs in the prevention or management of adverse events in patients with cancer including:
- Increased communication between patients, providers and their communities
- Education of patients and caregivers
- Integration of standard clinical assessments with ePROs measured during routine clinical practice
- Help for patients in monitoring their respective conditions
- Improved patient empowerment and self-management
- Prospective evaluations of supportive care interventions and real-world efficiency of care for cancer patients.
Digital health solutions are associated with improved patient experience, increased adherence and treatment efficacy, and avoidance of unnecessary hospitalizations.1
Primary care-led diagnostic processes and post-cancer treatment surveillance/wellness programs support person-centred care in a timely way. However, studies show that primary care providers often feel that they do not have sufficient time and expertise to provide cancer support for their patients.2
While not cancer specific, this virtual tool is a good place to start.
The Ontario eConsult program leverages a secure web-based tool allowing physicians and nurse practitioners timely access to specialist advice often eliminating the need for a referral. Primary care physicians can link to cancer specialists and receive a response within an average of two days.
- Aapro M, Bossi P, Dasari A, et al. Digital health for optimal supportive care in oncology: benefits, limits, and future perspectives. Support Care Cancer. 2020;28(10):4589-4612.
- Lewis RA, Neal RD, Hendry M, et al. Patients’ and healthcare professionals’ views of cancer follow-up: systematic review. Br J Gen Pract. 2009;59(564):e248-59.