OSUCCC – James experts are here to help patients and caregivers as they continue their cancer journeys amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s topic: How telehealth options can help cancer patients stay connected with their doctors while practicing physical distancing We’ve heard the term a lot, but what does it mean to be “immunocompromised”? On a basic level, immunocompromised means the body’s immune system has been weakened in some way. The immune system is the body’s natural defense system against diseases and infections; however, some health conditions, such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes, malnutrition and genetic disorders, limit the body’s ability to fight infections. Certain medicines or treatments, such as anticancer drugs, radiation therapy, and stem cell or organ transplant, can also leave patients more susceptible to infection. Due to treatment, cancer patients are often immunocompromised for a significant period — and in rare cases for the rest of their lives — so it is critically important that they take precautions to reduce their risk of infection, especially during this time of heightened risk. “This means helping patients reduce their personal risk, but also taking precautions as a community of health care providers to protect our patients, as well as ourselves and our own families,” says David Cohn, MD, chief medical officer for The James. At The James, this means tightly restricting visitors to the hospital and screening everyone who enters our hospitals and outpatient clinics for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses. Most patients who were receiving chemotherapy, radiation and other medical therapies prior to the public health crisis will continue to do so. “There is a complex set of factors in cancer care weighing the risk of each individual patient’s cancer status (i.e., how aggressive is the disease) versus the implications of treatment (i.e, immunosuppression, frequent trips to the hospital). Where the patient is in the course of his or her complete therapy is also an important factor. All of these decisions are being carefully made on a case-by-case basis as the environment evolves,” explains Cohn. Patients also still have access to therapeutic clinical trials. Surgical procedures are being performed if they are urgently needed for patients with or suspected to have cancer, as well imaging tests to define the extent of cancer or to monitor cancer progression. Virtual clinics for cancer care As the global medical community adapts to ensure that it is prepared to respond to increased patient populations affected by COVID-19, The James has taken steps to protect our unique patient population, and this means minimizing in-person contact as much as possible. In mid-March, The James implemented a process to enable oncology providers to transition the bulk of their patients to virtual visits via video or telephone consultations through May, with the expectation that remote consults will likely continue into the summer. To deliver consultations remotely, The James has set up more than 40 telehealth stations in private exam rooms and offices within the hospital to ensure patient confidentiality during telephone and video consults. Providers are also equipped to provide these private consultations from a location outside of their usual clinic. At the end of March, there had been 676 video/telephone visits throughout the James. Those were facilitated both by telehealth video and telephone visits performed via a variety of technologies rapidly made available to our providers and clinical staff. The goal has been to rapidly identify patients of The James who could benefit from consultations remotely. “We want to make sure only the patients who truly must be seen in person come to our clinical buildings. Our patients with cancer are already at a risk for infection as a result of their cancer or cancer treatment, so we are being especially vigilant about putting protections in place to maintain the health and wellness of our patients, staff and faculty,” says Cohn. The James is committed to ensuring that cancer telehealth visits replicate the high-quality, multispecialty experience that our patients with cancer would receive if they were to see providers in person. “Our approach to telehealth goes beyond a simple conversation between the provider and a patient, because our cancer patient population is unique and requires more than that,” says James Chen, a medical oncologist who is co-leading of the telehealth initiative at The James with Robb Stillman, RN, director of clinical informatics, and Samantha Jaglowski, MD, a hematologist. “Every patient still receives a comprehensive nursing assessment and an evaluation by the physician team. Pharmacists, social workers and dietitians are all still incorporated into each patient’s visit, as appropriate.” Here to help The James Patient Access team is available to answer questions and help patients and their families navigate the current care environment. Learn how to help patients prepare for a video visit. Get answers to commonly asked questions and information about visitor restrictions. For further questions related to cancer care and clinical trials, call 1-800-293-5066. OSUCCC – James COVID-19 Coverage Important Information for Patients Tips for Physical Distancing At-Home Exercise Tips Virtual Care Tips for Cancer Patients