The key pillars of transformation in oncology as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic were identified in an article published in the JAMA Health Forum.
Anaeze Offodile, MD, and Thomas Aloia, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, outlined the key pillars as virtual care, advance care planning, and digitizing clinical trials.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many oncology practices transitioned to the use of telemedicine. The removal of several regulatory waivers, such as pay parity and removal of interstate licensure requirements, were benefits of the virtual visits. These improvements identified the possibility of “hospital-at-home” models that would reduce the need for emergency department transfers.
Emerging digital tools would greatly expand the ability of oncologists to care for patients but consideration should be given to create a reimbursement framework to offset the start-up costs and aid with staffing and remote monitoring.
Drs Offodile and Aloia also propose an in depth study of the value of telemedicine as it relates to patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, shortcomings, physician burnout, and patient data privacy protection since little is known about the impact of virtual medicine.
The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated patients’ end of life preferences and identified the importance of preemptively discussing “what if” scenarios. Patients are recommended to discuss advance care planning with their oncologist.
Because of the suspension of clinical trials and disruption of laboratory and clinical research, the reimagination of the clinical trial to a digitized platform should be considered.
Virtual trials bring clinical trials to patients, omitting the need for prolonged travel and economic burden and increasing geographic and sociodemographic representation in trials.
“As the public health crisis inevitably subsides, we should be intentional and thoughtful about the next set of choices that we make to improve the care of patients with cancer,” concluded Drs Offodile and Aloia.—Lisa Kuhns
Source: Offodile AC, Aloia T. Oncology Clinical Transformation in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Health Forum. Published online September 18, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2020.1126
