Telemedicine Services Gain Traction in Cancer Rehabilitation

Researchers from the University of Michigan have published findings on patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, conducted at an academic medical center, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine in cancer rehabilitation care, particularly in addressing patient and provider concerns. The results indicate that telemedicine visits were well-received by both patients and providers, with high satisfaction rates reported for various services provided. However, provider preference for in-person visits was noted in cases of new or worsening problems.

Key Takeaways:

Patient satisfaction with telemedicine visits was high, with 94.8% of patients reporting a good experience.
Provider satisfaction was also high, with 83.9% of providers reporting that the patient's main problem was addressed during the visit.
Providers were more likely to prefer in-person visits for new or worsening problems, whereas telemedicine visits were preferred for stable or improving problems.
The most common services provided during telemedicine visits were medication prescription/titration and education/counseling.
The least common services provided were making new diagnoses, ordering interventional procedures, and making referrals.

Statistics:

155 unique patients participated in the study, with 184 encounters scheduled; 166 encounters were completed with 155 unique patients.
94.8% of patient responses reported 'quite a bit' or 'very much' for the telemedicine visit being a good experience.
63.1% of patient responses reported 'quite a bit' or 'very much' for interest in using telemedicine visits in the future.
83.9% of provider responses reported 'quite a bit' or 'very much' for the patient's main problem being addressed by the visit.

Sources:

PM&R, 2021;13(12):1362-1368.