Telemedicine and Gynecologic Cancer Care

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2020 Jun;47(2):271-285. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2020.02.003. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Abstract

Patients with gynecologic cancers experience better outcomes when treated by specialists and institutions with experience in their diseases. Unfortunately, high-volume centers tend to be located in densely populated regions, leaving many women with geographic barriers to care. Remote management through telemedicine offers the possibility of decreasing these disparities by extending the reach of specialty expertise and minimizing travel burdens. Telemedicine can assist in diagnosis, treatment planning, preoperative and postoperative follow-up, administration of chemotherapy, provision of palliative care, and surveillance. Telemedical infrastructure requires careful consideration of the needs of relevant stakeholders including patients, caregivers, referring clinicians, specialists, and health system administrators.

Keywords: Access to care; Cancer care delivery research; Gynecologic cancer; Telemedicine; Teleoncology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / diagnosis
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / therapy*
  • Healthcare Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Palliative Care / methods
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Rural Population
  • Telemedicine / methods*