Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Curr Oncol Rep. 2024 Nov;26(11):1271-1276. doi: 10.1007/s11912-024-01588-5. Epub 2024 Jul 31.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory and reimbursement policy changes provided patients improved access to neuro-oncology by telehealth. Here we discuss benefits and limitations of telehealth use in neuro-oncology. We review utilization of telemedicine services following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Utilization of telemedicine by neuro-oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic was 52%, compared to 27-29% for other solid tumors groups. Following the pandemic, between January 2021 and April 2024, telehealth utilization has remained high in neuro-oncology with approximately 30% of all visits completed by telemedicine, compared to 10-15% for other solid tumor groups. The striking difference between telehealth visit utilization in neuro-oncology and general medical oncology even after expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expiration and end of pandemic-related restrictions, underscores the potential value of convenient access to care for patients with central nervous system tumors. Given widespread use of telehealth in neuro-oncology, prospective evaluation to determine the safety, usability, and acceptance of video-enabled, telehealth visits is critical. Such data may lead to broader adoption of telehealth, lead to regulatory and reimbursement reform for telehealth sustainability, and improve clinical trial access and accruals.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，监管和报销政策的变化通过远程医疗为神经肿瘤患者提供了更好的治疗途径。在此，我们讨论了远程医疗在神经肿瘤学中的应用的益处和局限性。我们回顾了 COVID-19 大流行后远程医疗服务的使用情况。
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，神经肿瘤学中远程医疗的利用率为 52%，而其他实体肿瘤组为 27-29%。大流行后，在 2021 年 1 月至 2024 年 4 月期间，神经肿瘤学中远程医疗的利用率仍然很高，约有 30%的就诊通过远程医疗完成，而其他实体肿瘤组为 10-15%。即使 COVID-19 公共卫生紧急状态结束和大流行相关限制结束后，神经肿瘤学中远程医疗就诊的利用率与普通肿瘤学之间的显著差异，突显了为中枢神经系统肿瘤患者提供便捷护理的潜在价值。鉴于远程医疗在神经肿瘤学中的广泛应用，前瞻性评估以确定视频支持的远程医疗访问的安全性、可用性和可接受性至关重要。这些数据可能会导致更广泛地采用远程医疗，推动远程医疗的监管和报销改革以实现可持续性，并改善临床试验的参与和入组。
