December 26, 2024
How telehealth can make life easier for people with cancer
Virtual care connects cancer patients like Rob Tufel to a wide range of resources from the comfort of home.
Rob Tufel’s mission is to connect cancer patients with the support they need.
When Rob Tufel was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he already knew how challenging it can be to go through treatment. He was a 2-time cancer survivor and had worked in the field of oncology for more than 30 years.
But he was surprised by how poorly he still felt months after his successful treatment.
“I could barely leave my house,” said Tufel. “I was dealing with a lot of different symptoms.”
He’d lost more than 15 pounds and was struggling to return to his normal weight. And the need to urinate frequently at night made it impossible to sleep.
Fortunately, Kaiser Permanente’s telehealth services made it easy for Tufel to connect to care from the comfort of his home. When it was time for an appointment, he could simply join a videoconference in his living room. Or he could make a phone call without even getting out of bed.
“Having access to my doctors without needing to get in my car was incredible for me,” he said.
Connecting to an entire care team from home
Patients with cancer can spend hours in waiting rooms, infusion chairs, and radiation centers, in addition to traveling to and from clinics.
Telehealth allows them to connect with doctors and specialists from home for some appointments. This is especially helpful for people who have trouble walking or live far from cancer centers.
Beyond the initial treatment, clinicians can use virtual care to regularly follow up with patients as part of their long-term monitoring and survivorship care.
In addition to using telehealth to talk with his cancer care team, Tufel spoke often with a dietitian who helped him identify foods he could digest more easily.
He also had a telehealth consultation with a physical therapist, who taught him exercises and breathing techniques to help improve his digestion and bladder function.
And he had a video call with a psychologist to address the mental health aspects of his recovery.
“One of the biggest advantages of virtual care is how it connects patients to the specific care they need, regardless of where they live,” said Tatjana Kolevska, MD, medical director of Kaiser Permanente’s national excellence in cancer care program.
More virtual support for patients with cancer
Kaiser Permanente members will soon have access to even more cancer support services.
For their nonmedical needs, they’ll be able to call a dedicated cancer support line to:
• Get advice about financial aid, billing issues, and health coverage
• Learn about transportation options for appointments
• Find information about emotional well-being support services and other local resources
“Telehealth has the potential to revolutionize cancer care,” said Dr. Kolevska. “It can help make high-quality care more accessible for all our patients.”
Back to doing what he loves
Rob (left) enjoys a sunny day with his partner, Michael.
Tufel is feeling much better. He was able to return to his work at Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area, which is part of a network of centers across the country that offer no-cost support programs for people with cancer.
He said cancer treatment and recovery are always challenging. But virtual care played an important role in helping him make it through a difficult time.
“Some cancer care must be delivered in person, but we’re proud to provide our patients with choices when appropriate,” said Dr. Kolevska. “We believe high-quality care should be easy to get — when and how you want it.”
Learn more about cancer care at Kaiser Permanente.
