Innovations in oncology: Telemedicine revolutionizes care!

Innovations in oncology: Telemedicine revolutionizes care!

The first day of Austrian Health Forum 2025 in Schladming is characterized by innovative solutions in oncological care. The workshop entitled "Digital and Lifeline - Innovative Solutions in Oncological Care" is moderated by Günter Rauchegger. The aim is to significantly improve oncological care in Austria through telemedicine, structured processes and networked actors. The press reports that digitization is viewed here as a catalyst for changes.

The need for changes in oncology is great, because the innovation dynamics in this area is remarkable. It goes away from classic chemotherapy to targeted and immunological therapies. New drugs that can often be taken orally help help to increase the quality of life of the patients. The telemedical project Onkomobil, which starts in Styria and Vorarlberg, is particularly exciting and focuses on therapy monitoring and aftercare of cancer.

Telemedicine: An answer to the challenges

The increasing need for oncological care is obvious, as Hannes Kaufmann emphasizes. The increasing number of cases affect limited capacities, which requires a paradigm shift in care. Onkomobil offers a solution here: Telemedical monitoring enables side effects to be recognized and intervene early. Thomas Bauernhofer emphasizes that the aftercare of cancer patients is improved by digital self-assessments. The integration of primary care is also crucial to close existing supply gaps.

But these innovative technologies and approaches are not without challenges. Bernd Leinich points out that the complexity of the organizational structures is often greater than that of technology itself. Volker Knestel speaks of a graded structural model that demands clear treatment paths in the supply. The focus is also on data security. Angelika Rzepka emphasizes the importance of data protection for secure data processing and its use for research purposes.

The role of care and patient participation

An essential aspect of the discussion is the role of care, especially the so -called Cancer Nurses. Yvonne Zabka emphasizes how important personal care and the involvement of the patients are into their treatment. There is agreement that uniform training and recognition of the Cancer Nurse are necessary to ensure a nationwide supply. The Ministry of Health emphasizes that digitization offers new opportunities: Faster communication and more efficient administrative processes could significantly improve the quality of the treatment, such as Underline the Federal Health Ministry

telemedicine has experienced an enormous thrust through the Covid 19 pandemic. The use of Telehealth in oncology has increased noticeably worldwide. An investigation shows that only 6.57 visits per 1,000 members in the USA took place in the United States before the pandemic. Pandemic forced the hospitals, since this innovative method enabled a safe continuation of the supply even during the lockdowns. Many patients were extremely satisfied with telemedical visits, which further promotes the acceptance of these solutions. Nevertheless, it remains to be clarified how the barriers can be reduced in digital use, especially among older and disadvantaged population groups.

conclusion: a necessary change

In summary, it can be said: The change in oncological care is necessary and already on the way. The discussion in Schladming clearly shows that further developments and clearer responsibilities are required to ensure high -quality, human -centered treatment. The use of digital technologies can help to cope with the challenges in healthcare and ensure better medical care. However, it is necessary that all actors - from politicians to healthcare providers to the patients - pull together in order to successfully shape the change. The next time will show what the effects of the solutions discussed will actually have in practice.