Journal article
The development of a Telemedical Cancer Center within the Veterans Affairs Health Care System: A report of preliminary clinical results
Telemedicine journal and e-health, Vol.8(1), pp.123-130
03/01/2002
DOI: 10.1089/15305620252933464
PMID: 12020412
Abstract
In order to optimize the delivery of multidisciplinary cancer care to veterans, our institution has developed a regional cancer center with a telemedical outreach program. The objectives of this report are to describe the organization and function of the telemedical cancer center and to report our early clinical results. The Veterans Affairs Health Care System is organized into a series of integrated service networks that serve veterans within different areas throughout the United States. Within Veterans Integrated Service Network 20 (Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon) we have developed a regional cancer center with telemedicine links to four outlying facilities within the service area. The telemedical outreach effort functions through the use of a multidisciplinary telemedicine tumor board. The tumor board serves patients in outlying facilities by providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary consultation for the complete range of malignancies. For individuals who do require referral to the cancer center, the tumor board serves to coordinate the logistical and clinical details of the referral process. This program has been in existence for 1 year. During that time 85 patients have been evaluated in the telemedicine tumor board. Sixty-two percent of the patients were treated at their closest facility; 38% were referred to the cancer center for treatment and/or additional diagnostic studies. The patients' diagnoses included the entire clinical spectrum of malignant disease. Preliminary clinical results demonstrate the program is feasible and it improves access to multidisciplinary cancer care. Potential benefits include improved referral coordination and minimization of patient travel and treatment delays.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The development of a Telemedical Cancer Center within the Veterans Affairs Health Care System: A report of preliminary clinical results
- Creators
- Kevin G. Billingsley - University of WashingtonClaudia Zink - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemDarla Parayno - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemGordon Starkebaum - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemDavid L. Schwartz - University of Puget SoundSusan Lentz - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemEric Vallières - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemR. Bruce Montgomery - University of Puget SoundWilliam Schubach - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemDavid Penson - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemBevan Yueh - VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemHoward Chansky - VA Puget Sound Health Care System
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Telemedicine journal and e-health, Vol.8(1), pp.123-130
- DOI
- 10.1089/15305620252933464
- PMID
- 12020412
- NLM abbreviation
- Telemed J E Health
- ISSN
- 1530-5627
- eISSN
- 1556-3669
- Number of pages
- 8
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/2002
- Academic Unit
- Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9984966754202771
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