In a study presented at ASCO 2022 (abstract), we found that:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one-fifth of patients initiating cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic (Mar 2020 to Sep 2021, follow-up through December 2021) used telemedicine services (n = 25,164 patients). However, there were substantial disparities: Black, uninsured, non-urban, and less affluent patients are less likely to use telemedicine services. While telemedicine may expand access to specialty care, the proliferation of these services may widen cancer care disparities if vulnerable populations do not have equitable access.
This study received substantial press, including from Bloomberg!
