Disrupting the paradigm of oncology care in Canada: the triumphs, challenges and future implications of telemedicine

Abstract

Medicine has long been one of the lingering aspects of society yet to be fully disrupted by technological advances. Unlike media, banking and commerce which have adapted to the growing demand for convenience and accessibility from the public, the practice of medicine in many ways remains much unchanged from decades prior. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) demanded an immediate shift in the way Canadian healthcare was delivered to reduce the risk of viral transmission from in person patient encounters. Cancer poses a large and ever-increasing impact on the Canadian population and healthcare resources. Brenner et al. (2020) estimated nearly half of the Canadian population will develop cancer in their lifetime in addition to the recent increasing yearly number of new diagnoses and deaths as the population grows and ages [1]. Cancer patients were initially an ideal population for telemedicine encounters during the pandemic. These patients often have additional comorbidities association with COVID-19 mortality and a diagnosis of cancer may further increase this risk [2]. As healthcare enters a second year within the new paradigm of virtual medicine, it is important to consider the impact and future of telemedicine on Canada’s ever-growing oncology patients.