Tennessee Oncology Launches Rural Telehealth Program to Bridge Digital Divide for Middle Tennessee Cancer Patients

NEWS PROVIDED BY Tennessee Oncology& NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Oncology, a nationally recognized independent oncology practice with 35 clinics, has launched a community-based participatory research project to improve breast and prostate cancer patient access to three vital supportive care services via telehealth in seven rural counties in Middle Tennessee. The seven counties are divided into three regions and include Robertson, Dickson, Putnam, Dekalb, Warren, Bedford, and Coffee counties.  NEST (Navigated, Embedded, Supportive Care, Via Telehealth),& which will be implemented through Tennessee Oncology’s McKay Institute for Oncology Transformation, is supported by a& $1.5 million& Practice Transformation and Extension grant from the Tennessee Department of Health to address barriers rural cancer patients face to see specialists for palliative care, psychology, and integrative oncology services. To kick off the program, Tennessee Oncology is& recruiting Middle Tennessee cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and patient advocates& to participate in the program’s design as part of Community Advisory Boards (CABs). CABs will help identify best practices to connect with cancer patients locally. “Healthcare programs are often very one directional, but with NEST we will be empowering the community we intend to serve, to offer their perspectives on both challenges and solutions to shape the telehealth supportive services...