March 9, 2022
KP Research Radio explores how TPMG oncologists expanded care options during the COVID-19 pandemic
Before the COVID-19 pandemic started, oncologists at Kaiser Permanente Northern California had begun integrating telemedicine into cancer care. So, when the state of California announced its shelter-in-place mandate in March 2020, the oncology program was well-positioned to quickly expand its use of phone and video appointments.
It also was important, though, to study how this rapid adoption of telemedicine would impact patients and physicians. Raymond Liu, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist with The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG), and Elad Neeman, MD, a TPMG oncology fellow, turned to Mary E. Reed, DrPH, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, to help them develop and implement the research studies necessary to evaluate and improve upon the systems in place.
KP Research Radio spoke with Dr. Liu and Dr. Neeman about their research and the ways that telemedicine has given them new insights into their patients’ lives.
The papers the research team published illustrated Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s ability to quickly respond to COVID-19. Their studies also created a roadmap for other cancer centers looking to ramp up their own telemedicine programs.
To learn more about their research, see these news stories:
