Telemedicine for Multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Care: A Prospective Single Institution Study

Area of Science:

• Urologic Oncology
• Telemedicine
• Cancer Care Delivery

Background:

• Rapid implementation of telemedicine Multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Clinics (MDUCC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Maintained multidisciplinary cancer care delivery through virtual platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess patient-reported outcomes from a telemedicine MDUCC.
• Evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual multidisciplinary urologic cancer care.

Main Methods:

• Conducted video visits mirroring in-person MDUCC format with urologic, medical, and radiation oncologists.
• Collected patient demographic and clinical data prospectively.
• Administered post-visit surveys assessing satisfaction, trust, travel time, and costs.

Main Results:

• 24 patients completed surveys, with 83% attending from home.
• High patient willingness for future telemedicine appointments (100%).
• Significant patient-reported benefits including high satisfaction (79%) and substantial savings in travel distance (145 miles) and time (179 minutes).

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine MDUCCs are a feasible and effective model for delivering urologic cancer care.
• Telemedicine significantly reduces patient travel burden, improving access.
• Telemedicine holds potential for continued use in enhancing access to multidisciplinary urologic cancer care.