Oncology is a high-touch field. At first glance, cancer diagnosis and treatment are inherently hands-on, with scans, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But beneath the surface, virtual care is playing a critical role in the long-term care of patients with cancer. Oncologists and patients have embraced telemedicine to streamline intake, strengthen the care continuum, and better manage the “in-between” moments, particularly as cancer survivorship leads to longer-term monitoring and maintenance. Not only does this reduce travel and logistical constraints for patients, who can be counseled from the comfort of their own homes, it can help protect at-risk patients from unnecessary exposure to viruses and infectious diseases during periods of lowered immunity.
Doximity surveyed more than 1,100 U.S. physician telemedicine users to better understand the evolving role of telemedicine in clinical practice. As an extension of this survey, Doximity analyzed a subset of responses from 130 U.S. oncologists to gain insights into telemedicine’s role in cancer care delivery. While physicians across all surveyed specialties reported meaningful benefits from telemedicine, oncologists stood out for both their strong adoption and the significant value they have observed with virtual care.
According to survey results, telemedicine has become an essential and frequently used tool in oncology practices. In fact, 86% of oncologists who use telemedicine reported doing so daily or weekly — more than the 77% average across all specialties — reflecting how firmly virtual care has taken root in the field. Further, 88% of oncology telemedicine users indicated that they would like telemedicine to be a permanent part of their clinical practice, with many crediting virtual care with improving disease management and patient communications, as well as positively contributing to their own work-life balance.
In the Doximity survey, oncology telemedicine users overwhelmingly agreed that telemedicine is a game-changer for improving access to critical care for patients with cancer: 89% of oncology telemedicine users either strongly agree (47%) or agree (42%) that telemedicine has increased patient access to health care services, particularly among populations that may have had difficulty accessing care in the past.
“Telehealth is critical in expanding access and serving as a safety net in between visits,” said Hardeep Phull, MD, director of oncology at Palomar Health in Escondido, California. “Yes, nurses can make these calls directly, but why not have a doctor’s visit and be able to document it, bill for it, and make it a formal visit? That’s a win-win. You’re compensated for your time, and the patient benefits from hearing directly from their oncologist — instead of getting messages relayed through nurses or assistants. It’s the modern-day house call — just virtual.”
With cancer, time is of the essence. A quarter (25%) of oncology telemedicine users surveyed reported that telemedicine has contributed to earlier diagnosis and intervention. Dr. Phull is an advocate for leaning on telehealth if it means having a touchpoint with patients sooner rather than later: “Anything that comes with a referral for either hematology or oncology, of course, is dealt with extreme anxiety for most patients. I think that's part of the reason why we relied on telemedicine in the COVID era, and why it’s retained its usefulness.”
Additionally, more than half (61%) of oncologists surveyed reported that telemedicine impacts patient outcomes in their practice for the better. The majority of telemedicine use in oncology appears to center on established patients, with 82% of surveyed oncologists reporting they use it most often with this group. As Dr. Phull explained, “Patients get scared to think they’re being exposed to contagious illnesses by going to a doctor’s office. If they are immunocompromised, they think it’s safer to do telemedicine.”
Moreover, Paul Hanona, MD, hematology-oncology fellow at Beaumont University Hospital in Detroit, sees the value of oncology telehealth not just as a logistical time-saver for patients but as a geographic extension of oncology services against a dearth of clinicians. “I know some oncologists who will pick up moonlighting shifts across state lines. For example, they’re physically located in Detroit, and they’re seeing patients via telehealth in Montana. Those patients are at an infusion center, but there is no local oncologist. With technology, we can monitor treatment plans from a distance and work with their local center to manage the patient’s care plan. Telemedicine has an incredible home with oncology.”
Hanona points to the growing shortage of oncologists — a trend showing no signs of slowing — as one reason telemedicine can support earlier diagnosis and intervention. “The reality is, a patient might go to the ER with a lung mass and be told to follow up with an oncologist. However, in many practice models, oncology is primarily outpatient, and follow-up could take three or four weeks. Meanwhile, the mass may grow or worsen. With a brief telemedicine visit of just 15 to 20 minutes, we can get the ball rolling right away: order genetic sequencing, refer to interventional radiology, and so on. The delay isn’t just getting in to see me, it’s the additional wait to see everyone else. That’s what’s holding care back. Telemedicine can considerably shorten that window.”
For patients, telemedicine has become especially valuable as cancer care evolves — it’s not just about acute care anymore. Cancer treatment often requires long-term, continuous support over several years, much like other chronic conditions. Reflecting this evolution, over three-fourths of oncology telemedicine users surveyed (77%) said that telemedicine has contributed to better disease management. More than half (55%) of surveyed oncologists reported increased adherence to treatment plans, and 20% credited telemedicine for reducing hospital readmissions.
Indeed, as cancer care moves from acute care to chronic disease management, Phull supports the use of telemedicine as a way to triage patients whose situation is more urgent, while still providing the experience of high-touch patient care.
“There are many patients who don’t need to be seen in person between treatments. We learn to prioritize those who truly need to be in the clinic, like patients receiving IV immunotherapy or chemotherapy,” he said. “However, those in-between moments are still significant. Even for patients in long-term surveillance for five to 10 years, those six-month follow-ups are major milestones. These patients are checking in with a part of their life that was once life-threatening, and all of these touchpoints really matter. Telemedicine has expanded when and where we can offer that connection and support.”
Illustration by Hannah Gambino
