Patients with country cancer cross state lines to specialist care

In a study financed by federal researchers from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (U), they found that 7% of patients from Medicare Cross State Borders for Cancer Care, and the indicators were almost twice for those who lived in rural areas. This has important implications for teeth policy and a doctor’s license, says that Tracy Onega, MA, MPA, MS, MS, senior examination author, senior director of population sciences at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and a professor of population sciences at U. They live far from the Main Medical Center.

Patients with cancer, especially in rural areas, often travel at long distances to receive specialist carcinoma. However, there are restrictions on how doctors can track their patients and practically exercise in various state -owned lines from teeth. We can use data from this study to inform policy and internships to remove this type of health care barrier. “

Dr. Tracy Onega, MA, MPAS, MS, senior study author, senior director of population sciences at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and professor of population sciences at U.

The team -which research results were published in -Surveyed over 1 million beneficiaries of Medicare with cancer. In the case of patients included in the Federal Health Insurance Program, designed to cover healthcare for Americans over the age of 65, they found that 8.3% of all patients with cancer exceeded state lines for surgery, 6.7% in radiation and 5.6% in the case of chemotherapy.

These numbers were much higher in rural patients. Of this population, 18.5% traveled to other states for surgery, 16.9% in the case of radiotherapy and 16.3% in the case of chemotherapy.

Onega claims that telemedicine, providing healthcare through virtual talks with a health care worker, cannot replace such services provided in clinical conditions. Instead, he says that telemedicine can fill the gaps in the treatment of cancer.

“Patients travel on state lines for specialized cancer treatment services, which should be performed in a brick clinic, but surgical assessment and observations can be offered by teens. The surgeon may follow patients remotely and can assess their progress from distance,” says Onega. “This would reduce additional travel loads for all patients and their carers, especially those in rural and border areas.”

Telehealth in Cancer Care can also be used to manage the side effects associated with treatment, checking clinical trials and prevention services.

Onega claims that access to this service is particularly important for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, whose clinicians provide comprehensive care for the Five Cancer to largely rural mountain states West: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Many patients travel far to access healthcare, in particular the type of specialist care needed to treat cancer.

. use of telemedicine In health care, it developed from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, it was found that 37% of adults over 18 were used in 2022.

But there are obstacles. The practice of medicine is subject to the individual National Medical Commission and License Policy between countries vary depending on the state. Some states have more beneficial teeth policies, encouraging to combine care regardless of the location, while others have retained ten -year policies preceding Teethuction technologies. Unfortunately, for many patients in rural areas, outdated management of medical licenses, they are prohibited by suppliers to engage with them through teeth.

“Some states have reciprocity, which means that the doctor licensed in Utah may also be automatically licensed in the next state. But it is limited,” says Onega. “It would be great to expand these options so that they do not have so many of these barriers, so that doctors can provide services in various state lines through teeth.”

Onega claims that changed policy can mean better results for patients, their carers, suppliers and insurers teams.

“Patients are always the first. We now have so much improvement in cancer care technology, many benefits of patients. People live longer and a better life after diagnosis of cancer,” says Onega. “We want to make sure that people who live far from the urban area may have the same benefits.”

The research described in this issue is supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, including P30 CA042014 and Huntsman Cancer Foundation.