Advanced Skin Cancer Care for Rural Populations

Patients with cancer who live in rural areas face many barriers to care, which can limit both their access and adherence to care, including traveling long distances, lack of insurance coverage, and a multitude of other social and emotional determinants. Hear how to leverage the skills of a multidisciplinary team to support patients in overcoming these barriers. CANCER BUZZ speaks with Emily Smith, MD and clinical associate professor of Pathology and Dermatology at the University of Michigan on how she addresses determinants of health in her practice and best practice recommendations for high quality care.

“There are so many factors weighing on their decision to seek care and where they are going to seek care. It can be quite complex and it takes time to sort out; we can screen all we want but sometimes it takes time beyond a screening tool to really sort out what a barrier might be and this is where conversations with [our] physicians, nursing staff, or navigators can really help to get to the bottom of each patient’s individual story and what specific needs they might have. It’s a conversation, there is no direct algorithm that we can use– every patient’s scenario is going to be unique.” –Emily Smith, MD

This video podcast has been created in connection with the education program “Advanced Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers: Effective Practices in Multidisciplinary Care.” 

Emily Smith, MD

Clinical Associate Professor, Pathology and Dermatology 

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

Resources:

Advanced Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers: Effective Practices in Multidisciplinary Care

Talking About Squamous Cell Skin Cancer – Cancer Support Community

Talking About Basal Cell Skin Cancer – Cancer Support Community

Caring for Someone with Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer – Frankly Speaking About Cancer

Skin Cancer Education & Research Foundation