May 14, 2020

Telehealth, Health Safety Precautions, Increased Isolation: Patient Perspective on the New Normal During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By A. Kate MacDougall

As the COVID-19 pandemic began in the United States, nonessential surgeries and other procedures were put on hold, and physicians and advanced practitioners (APs) were relocated to the frontlines. As a result, cancer patients experienced myriad changes in their care, including enhanced use of telehealth, new health safety precautions, and increased isolation, and are now learning ways to cope with their new normal.

Terri Hamilton, who is being treated for stage IV colorectal cancer, moved from Melbourne, Florida, to Austin, Texas, in August 2019 to begin treatment at a new institution. She is currently receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which requires her to make visits to the hospital frequently.

Since the pandemic began, Hamilton’s care team has been utilizing telehealth as much as possible. And she said that although telehealth visits are helpful for appointments where she and her care team review test results together, she feels there are instances where in-person visits are more appropriate.

“I like to be seen face to face; it makes a huge difference to me,” she said, noting that she feels in-person visits are more personal and that she’s able to ask more questions and cover more ground with the clinicians when they’re physically in the same room.

When she does need to go into the hospital for an appointment or treatment, Hamilton said that her institution has ramped up its precautionary and sanitization procedures, particularly in the infusion clinic. In addition to positioning the chairs 6 feet apart and increasing the cleaning frequency in the clinic, she said they’ve also instituted new rules for patients.

“They don't allow you to bring anybody with you,” she said. “We all have to wear a mask, and walking into the facility from the parking garage, you get your temperature taken.”

Although patients with cancer, particularly those undergoing certain treatments, are immunocompromised and most likely already used to self-isolation practices, the increased isolation due to the pandemic can be an added emotional burden. Hamilton said that it has been difficult for her, as she considers herself a “people person.”

“It's hard not being able to even just walk in somewhere and just say hi to people,” she said. “There’s zero contact with humans. And it’s just really strange, and it’s taken me a little while to get used to that.”

Hamilton said that one of the ways she copes with being isolated is by calling and videochatting with her friends and family from afar, including virtually helping plan her daughter’s wedding, set for later this year. And although “it’s certainly not the same” as being in person with them, she said, she maintains a positive attitude and is optimistic about the future when they can all be together again.

Read more from the  APSHO Advance: Special COVID-19 Series