Cass Beer, Research Officer and Project Manager from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Genevieve Johnston, Project Officer and Dietician, Northern Health joined the VCCC in August in a joint secondment to assist the Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN) Telehealth Expert Working Group.
An initiative of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium, the VCCN is fulfilling a vital role responding to challenges involved with managing cancer care during the current health crisis.
COVID-19 has resulted in a significant increase in the use of telehealth for the management of patients with cancer. In most cases, telehealth provides a net benefit. It expands access to quality patient care, especially to regional and rural areas that need it the most. It has demonstrated its value in the current COVID climate to the extent oncology health professionals and patient advocates are interested in sustaining and further developing the use of telehealth into the future.
The project managers will primarily support the Telehealth Expert Working Group, managing a multi-site survey exploring the experience and use of telehealth for both patients and clinicians. They will investigate needs and opportunities to support the use of telehealth in oncology and assist with development of an implementation plan for its continued use in Victoria.
Telehealth provides an important link in the participation of rural and regional cancer patients in their own treatment as well as in the rapidly developing area of teletrials.
Dr Mark Buzza, Head of Clinical Research Programs says the appointments will enable collaboration with those at the forefront of telehealth cross the VCCN network. “We are keen to strategically identify continuing telehealth opportunities and unmet needs that will be of value to the broader community. There are clear benefits for patients in relation to time, travel, cost and stress that quality telehealth services can overcome,” he says.
"There are clear benefits for patients in relation to time, travel, cost and stress that quality telehealth services can overcome."
Dr Mark Buzza
For more information, contact VCCC Program Manager, Hannah Cross e: [email protected].
