AACI Commentary

Exploring Topics of Interest to AACI Cancer Centers

To promote the work of its member centers, AACI publishes Commentary, an editorial series focusing on major issues of common interest to North American cancer centers. 

Each AACI Commentary is written by a cancer center leader or subject matter expert and distributed by email to nearly 3,000 readers of the AACI Update newsletter. 

The publication is designed to cover a specific topic in 750-1,000 words. Recommendations for topics and authors are encouraged. 

Please submit suggestions to: 

Chris Zurawsky
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
412-802-6775

Emily Stimmel
Communications and External Relations Manager
412-647-0504

Sustaining the Use of Telemedicine in Post-Pandemic Cancer Care

By Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD; Cheryl L. Willman, MD; and Robert A. Winn, MD

The rapid shift to telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has had immediate benefits, including reduced risk of exposure to the virus in clinical settings and the removal of transportation barriers for patients and their caregivers.

Telemedicine encompasses telehealth visits conducted through phone or video, remote patient monitoring and engagement in cancer clinical interventions and clinical trials, and home-based care visits. Telehealth visits are among the most effective ways to facilitate cancer screening and care throughout the pandemic.

Since these tools will remain an integral component of cancer care in the future, understanding their impact on access, improved cancer care delivery, health equity, and outcomes is essential. It is equally important to address the impact of reimbursement issues on the viability of telemedicine.

Read the January 2021 Commentary.