Virtual visits bring big benefits for cancer care
January 04, 2021
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by an MD Anderson Cancer Center medical professional on January 04, 2021
When JuanDiego Mata-Ornelas was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at age 16, he was too young to travel alone from his home in south Texas to MD Anderson in Houston. Instead, his dad drove him to and from appointments.
“The trip was four hours there and four hours back,” says Juan. “I’d miss school and my dad would miss work, but that’s how it had to be.”
After Juan was treated with immunotherapy, the cancer disappeared. Juan, now 19, undergoes blood and imaging tests every four months to check for signs of recurrence. Then he meets with his MD Anderson doctors to discuss the results.
Those meetings began taking place via video in March, when MD Anderson started providing virtual visits to limit the number of people on our campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fast and efficient appointments
When a nurse called to ask Juan if he wanted a video visit instead of an in-person appointment, he eagerly said yes.
“Even though I knew MD Anderson was being careful to protect patients against COVID-19, I was nervous about making the trip to Houston in the middle of the pandemic,” he says. “Staying home gave me peace of mind.”
The nurse explained how to use the technology and even did a test session to make sure Juan was comfortable using it before his first video appointment.
Juan’s dad joins the appointments and chimes in with questions and comments from his living room couch.
“It’s fast and efficient,” says Juan. “Instead of driving four hours, we log on, talk for 20 minutes and we’re done.”
Community collaboration means better cancer care
Endocrinologist Anita Ying, M.D., treats Juan for thyroid problems related to his cancer. She says virtual visits have many benefits for patient care.
“Our patients are more able to keep their appointments when they’re not faced with taking off work, navigating Houston traffic, booking hotel rooms or arranging childcare,” Ying notes. “Also, many patients have found it’s easier to stay on schedule with virtual medical appointments, which is appreciated by both patients and health care providers.”
Some of Ying’s patients are intimidated by virtual health care after a lifetime of in-office visits.
“I tell them to think of it as an additional tool they can use to get excellent medical care without making themselves vulnerable to infection during the pandemic,” she says. “Many patients realize after their first video visit that they still feel very connected with their MD Anderson team.”
When out-of-town patients like Juan need in-person procedures such as lab tests or imaging, MD Anderson can contact a patient’s hometown doctor and have the testing done there. The results are sent to MD Anderson.
Ying has noticed a strengthened connection and collaboration with community physicians -- something she believes will last long after the pandemic ends.
“We’re becoming better partners,” she says. “We’re learning to work together for the benefit of our patients.”
Including family and friends in cancer care
Virtual visits also enable patients to include friends and family in their appointments – regardless of where they are located. They may be sitting next to the patient, or thousands of miles away.
“Everyone attends from the comfort and safety of their own home via the computer,” says clinical psychotherapist Carmella Wygant.
This makes it easy for patients to include loved ones who might not have otherwise been able to actively participate in their care. “Patients feel reassured when their family members are present,” says Wygant. “They also feel less pressured to remember precisely what their doctor told them about their condition and treatment.”
Virtual visits enable family support during COVID-19
Brissa Castillo has seen the benefits of joining a virtual visit first-hand. She participated in a video appointment with her mom, Julia, early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Julia completed treatment for ocular melanoma, a type of eye cancer, two years ago. MD Anderson doctors check her every six months for signs of recurrence.
“I sat with my mom at the computer and helped her talk with her doctor,” says Brissa. “My mom is from Guatemala and is still learning English. She needs me.”
Before the pandemic, Julia’s in-person appointments required some coordination. Her husband would take two days off work to drive his wife from their Dallas-area home to Houston. Brissa, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, would miss classes to come along.
Now, Julia’s appointments and Brissa’s classes are virtual. Everything they need to do can be done from home.
“Virtual visits have made life so much easier for my family,” Brissa says. “They’ve allowed my mom to continue receiving excellent care at home, and my dad and I can participate in her appointments. I’m happy I can be there to support my mom.”
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.
Topics
COVID-19Instead of driving four hours, we log on, talk for 20 minutes and we’re done.
JuanDiego Mata-Ornelas
Survivor