In recent years, ​​​​telehealth has transformed the way many Americans access health care, making everything from primary care visits to therapy sessions possible in the comfort of our own homes. Virtual care—once unheard of—is now considered routine, accelerated by growing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, Kaiser Permanente conducted about 15 percent of its consultations virtually. During the pandemic, we were able to quickly shift to nearly all virtual care. Today, even with the option for in-person visits available, we’re still seeing high numbers of patient requests to do consultations by video.

Based on our experience coming out of the pandemic, we are seeing that telehealth has the potential to quietly revolutionize cancer care. This type of care is complex, and navigating the journey can be complicated for many patients who have to manage logistics to access the care they so urgently need. Virtual care options can help them achieve this with less stress, greater convenience, and help make quality care more accessible to nearly anyone who receives a diagnosis.

The Benefits of Virtual Cancer Care

Virtual cancer care gives patients the ability to connect with doctors and specialists from the comfort of home, choosing a time that works for them and just as importantly, their family. This is especially helpful for people with mobility issues, those living in rural areas or far from specialized cancer centers, or those who don’t wish to travel. Patients can spend more time resting, recovering, and being with their loved ones rather than on the road or in waiting rooms.

One of the biggest advantages of virtual care is how it connects patients to the specific care they need, regardless of where they live. This is especially crucial for those with rare or complex cancers that require specialized expertise but may not live in an area where experts in these types of cancers are available.

Beyond the initial treatment, providers can use virtual care to regularly follow up with patients as part of their long-term monitoring and survivorship care. Cancer patients can spend hours in clinics, infusion chairs, radiation centers, and in cars, buses, and waiting rooms. A single 15-minute follow-up appointment can turn into a full day affair for some patients and their caregivers. This means missed time at work, with family, and doing the things they love. Virtual care has been found to save time, travel, and money for patients.

Helping More People Benefit from Virtual Care

While patients who are diagnosed with cancer can benefit from virtual care, not all do—yet. By thoughtfully expanding virtual care services, the health care industry has an opportunity to extend cancer care to more people.

At Kaiser Permanente, access to care is central to our mission of providing high-quality care to members. Over time, our virtual services have evolved to enhance inclusivity and accessibility—especially for those who live in underserved communities or other areas without access to cancer subspecialists.

An Expanding Array of Virtual Care Options

So, what does virtual cancer care look like in practice? Along with other leading health systems like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente uses virtual services to support patients in a myriad of ways, from symptom management to the treatment of complex cancer cases and connecting patients to social services during their cancer journey. They engage patient advisers in the development of virtual care programs to ensure that their services are truly patient-centered and meet the unique needs of those living with cancer.

For example, our oncologists and patient advisers collaborated to design a digital symptom management program within our existing e-visit system for cancer patients receiving drug therapy. E-visits enable members to access quick medical advice, prescriptions, tests, and referrals for common health concerns for no cost. By answering a few questions online, cancer patients have 24/7 access to advice and self-care options to help manage their most common symptoms. Patients who have additional needs are connected with their care team for timely follow-up. This program is available in some locations as part of a pilot, with plans to expand across our organization in the coming months.

We created a new virtual platform that enables treating oncologists to collaborate with Kaiser Permanente cancer subspecialists from across the country on the best cancer care options for patients with complex or rare cancers, regardless of their location. The subspecialists become part of the care team and can access pertinent notes, lab results, pathology and imaging for seamless collaboration on the patient’s care within two business days, far faster than the industry average of 10 to 12 days.

To support patients beyond the clinical setting, we launched a dedicated cancer support line that assists patients and caregivers with important non-medical needs, including understanding health coverage, connecting to local resources, linking to services that support emotional well-being, and exploring ways to manage costs.

Forward Momentum

While patients and clinicians will always have the option to receive cancer care in person, when needed or preferred, virtual care is changing the nature of cancer care, just as it has other fields in health care.

As technology continues to advance and virtual care options expand, we can look forward to a future where the potential of virtual care is fully realized and more people, including those in underserved communities, have greater access to the cancer care they deserve.

This article was done in paid partnership with Kaiser Permanente and edited by Newsweek staff.
To contact the editor of this article, please reach out to partnership.content@newsweek.com.