Work

Distance-stratified sociodemographic differences in telemedicine use in surgical oncology clinics at an academic medical center

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We examined telemedicine use across 38,883 surgical oncology visits (2021-2023) at a Northern California cancer center. At ≥20 miles from clinics, Hispanic (OR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.68,0.85]), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.66,0.84]), interpreter-needing (OR = 0.67, 95% CI [0.59,0.77]), and Medicaid patients (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.76,0.96]) had lower telemedicine use, while low-income patients showed higher utilization (OR = 1.67, 95% CI [1.46,1.91]). At <20 miles, no differences were observed for Hispanic, interpreter-needing, Medicaid, or low-income patients, but Asian/Pacific Islanders showed higher use (OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.04-1.30]). Geographic distance modifies telemedicine access patterns.

Source: npj Digital Medicine

DOI: 10.1038/s41746-026-02411-0