Pre-Pandemic Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Telehealth for Cancer Care in the United States

Plos One: Pre-Pandemic Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Telehealth for Cancer Care in the United States

This report found that although telehealth is widely available throughout the United States, millions of Americans do not have access to telehealth oncology services. Study authors noted that previous research has shown people living in rural areas tend to have worse cancer outcomes than their peers in urban or suburban areas. The problem is only getting worse, as health systems consolidate the provision of the most complex cancer care at high-volume cancer centers. Advocacy for adoption of telehealth is critical to ensuring equitable access to high-quality cancer care, ultimately reducing place-based outcomes disparities.