Telemedicine and Its Past, Present, and Future Roles in Providing Palliative Care to Advanced Cancer Patients

Abstract

The landscape of healthcare delivery has considerably changed due to the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is nowhere more evident than in the care of advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care. This population is susceptible to the severe complications of COVID-19, and immediate measures had to be taken to ensure their safety. Thus, the adoption of telemedicine as a health care delivery model emerged. This model provides many benefits, such as improved access to care while maintaining social distancing; however, there exist challenges to this model, including health care disparities, reimbursement, and monitoring of opioids in high-risk populations. This narrative review provides an overview of the unique benefits and barriers of telemedicine in palliative care patients.