Preparing patients for telehealth cancer care
Help patients understand how telehealth fits into their cancer care and prepare them for successful virtual visits.
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Preparing patients for telehealth cancer care
Patients have different levels of comfort with telehealth technology. Before the first visit, explain how telehealth will be used and identify any support the patient may need. Considerations include:
- Assess readiness and preferences. Ask about the patient’s device, internet connection, private space, comfort with technology, and modality preference. Offer audio-only or in-person care when clinically appropriate.
- Provide technology support. Give the patient step-by-step instructions and offer a practice session when possible. Provide contact information for technical assistance.
- Prepare for the visit. Ask the patient to have their medication list, questions, symptom information, and recent test results available.
- Plan for technology problems. Tell the patient what to do if the virtual visit is disconnected.
- Address concerns. Explain what the patient can expect from the telehealth visit and answer any questions.
Supporting cancer screening with telehealth
Telehealth can support cancer screening, but it does not replace examinations, imaging, specimen collection, or diagnostic procedures that must be completed in person. Providers can use telehealth to:
- Review the patient’s history, symptoms, risk factors, and screening history
- Discuss recommended screening options
- Order an at-home screening test when recommended
- Review screening results
- Coordinate in-person services
For example, for eligible patients, a fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, is one recommended at-home option for colorectal cancer screening. A provider can use telehealth to determine whether the test is appropriate, explain how to collect and return the sample, review the results, and coordinate follow-up.
Creating and sharing a cancer care plan
If a patient under your care is diagnosed with cancer, it is vital to begin a treatment plan as quickly as possible. A combination of telehealth and in-person visits can help address the patient’s needs. Discuss the following with the patient:
- Diagnosis and next steps. Explain the diagnosis, stage, tumor biomarker testing, and available treatment options.
- Visit schedule. Explain which appointments may take place through telehealth, and which services must occur in person.
- Treatment and medications. Review planned treatments, medication instructions, side effects, symptom management, and circumstances that may require a change in the treatment plan.
- Care team. Identify the members of the care team and explain how care will be coordinated with primary care practices, laboratories, pharmacies, treatment centers, and other providers.
- Urgent concerns. Tell patients how to contact the care team, which symptoms require an urgent call, and when to seek emergency care.
- Remote patient monitoring. When a remote monitoring device is used, explain what information the patient should submit, how often to submit it, who will review it, and what to do if the technology does not work.
- Follow-up care. Discuss rehabilitation, pain and symptom management, behavioral health, palliative care, clinical-trial participation, and post-treatment care.
Give the patient a brief, easy-to-read electronic copy of the care plan and update it when treatment or follow-up changes are needed.
Virtually connecting patients and caregivers with the support they need
Cancer can affect a patient’s emotional and social well-being. Telehealth can make counseling, peer support, patient navigation, educational services, and caregiver support available to those who prefer or need a remote option. When recommending a virtual support service, ask which service the patient prefers and offer virtual and in-person options when available.
Tip: The National Cancer Institute has a searchable support database that you can share with your patients.
Patient resources:
How can I use telehealth for cancer care? — Health Resources and Services Administration
How can I use telehealth to manage chronic conditions? — Health Resources and Services Administration