Strategies to Overcome Disparities in CLL

Ira Zackon, MD, a hematologist/oncologist with New York Oncology Hematology, and a senior medical director with Ontada, a data science company part of McKesson, discusses what strategies community oncology practices can implement to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Transcription:

0:09 | First, it starts with a community base being accessible to where people live, hopefully being geographically in areas that allow reasonable access to get the care. Second would be a healthy culture. When someone walks in there, they should have trust and feel comfortable, regardless of who they are. Across the diversity, we should have a staff and a culture that sees each individual for who they are at the human level and recognize everyone for the diversity of who they are.

0:55 | We are a team. It is not just physicians. We have advanced practice providers, [physicians assistants, etc.], who spend more time with patients, that's the way it's structured. Nurses play an important role, because they spend a lot of time both speaking on the phone or in communication channels, as well as in the office when they are coming in for treatments. All of those can be important feedback of information to identify some issues that maybe need to be addressed. Many of the practices may have social work, my practice does, so it is being able to connect, to identify issues, but all of that requires a good relationship so we can have honest discussions of what's going on and then bring on help.

1:54 | Telehealth became the norm during [the] COVID-19 [pandemic] and it hasn't gone away. Practices had to stand up telehealth technology if they didn't already have it. Fortunately, our policymakers have recognized the importance of telehealth, so they have not restricted its use, which has been important post-COVID. I do a fair amount of telehealth. It can overcome the distance barriers and transportation barriers. Depending on what one is treating, they still may need labs, still may need some in-person visits, a physical examination is important, but you can sometimes do telehealth for 1 visit and do an in-person visit another. What is nice about telehealth is that you meet people where they are at. It could be home, it could be on the road, it could be at their workplace so that it's convenient. It is a nice connection if you already know them. [We] still must make a physician and patient relationship. I think it is 1 solution to overcome some of those issues, at least when it comes to getting into an office easily if you were required to rely on public transportation or someone else helping to get you there. If it doesn't happen, then the visit doesn't happen.