title: Telemedicine for rural cancer care in North Queensland: bringing cancer care home.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of telemedicine in cancer care (teleoncology model of care) for rural patients in North Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive study. Data on demographical and clinical factors were retrieved from the teleoncology database of Townsville Hospital and review of medical records for the period between May 2007 and May 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical oncologists at the Townsville Cancer Centre, a regional cancer centre in North Queensland, have been providing their services to rural hospitals in Townsville and Mt Isa districts via videoconferencing since 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cancer care delivery to rural sites via Townsville teleoncology model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ability of the teleoncology model to provide the following services to rural towns: (i) specialist consultations; (ii) urgent specialist medical care; (iii) care for Indigenous patients; and (iv) remote supervision of chemotherapy administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between May 2007 and May 2011, 158 patients from 18 rural towns received a total of 745 consultations. Ten of these patients were consulted urgently and treatment plans initiated locally, avoiding interhospital transfers. Eighteen Indigenous patients received consultative services, being accompanied by more than four to six family members. Eighty-three patients received a range of intravenous and oral chemotherapy regimens in Mt Isa and oral agents in other towns through remote supervision by medical oncologists from Townsville.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teleoncology model of care allows rural and Indigenous cancer patients to receive specialist consultations and chemotherapy treatments closer to home, thus minimising the access difficulties faced by the rural sector.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology Department of Radiation Oncology, Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Douglas, Queensland, Australia. sabe_sabesan@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Sabe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabesan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larkins
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beuttner
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland; D017216:Telemedicine; D049269:Videoconferencing; D055815:Young Adult