Introduction:

We rapidly implemented a telemedicine Multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Clinic (MDUCC) at the University of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission while providing multidisciplinary cancer care. We aim to report our experience and assess patient-reported outcomes from our telemedicine MDUCC.

Methods:

Video visits with a urologic oncologist, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist were conducted in the same format as our in-person MDUCC before COVID-19. We prospectively collected patient demographic and oncological data. Patients were invited to complete a post-visit survey that assessed satisfaction, provider trust, travel time, and costs of the telemedicine visit. We estimated travel distances and times from each patient’s home to our clinic.

Results:

We conducted 23 telemedicine visits in our MDUCC from March through early June of 2020. 21 patients (91%) were at home during the visit. Median age was 69 years, 87% were men, and 61% Caucasian. 18 patients presented with bladder cancer, 3 with kidney cancer, 1 with upper tract urothelial carcinoma, and 1 with penile cancer. 70% of patients had stage III or IV disease. 12 patients responded to the post-visit survey (52%). Overall, patients reported high satisfaction with the telemedicine visits. The median travel costs, time, and distance reported were each 0. All 12 patients responded that they would be willing to have future appointments via telemedicine. We estimated that telemedicine saved patients a median one-way travel distance of 52 miles (IQR 16-127) and one-way travel time of 71 minutes (IQR 42-147).

Conclusion:

Telemedicine multidisciplinary clinics are feasible and effective in providing access to multidisciplinary urologic cancer care. Patient satisfaction was high and many patients were spared a substantial travel burden. Telemedicine may be leveraged during and after COVID-19 to improve access to multidisciplinary urologic cancer care.

Funding: This project is supported by a 2019 Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award & a Swim Across America Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Young Investigator Award, both to Dr. Gadzinski.