A monthly telemedicine clinic is now available for blood and marrow transplant patients in Grand Junction and surrounding areas.

The Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City joined with Grand Valley Oncology to offer the clinic, which uses lights, cameras and computers to connect doctors and BMT patients.

“The telemedicine BMT clinic is a fantastic asset for our patients to be able to access the expertise of HCI close to home,” said Dr. JoAnne Virgilio, a medical oncologist at Grand Valley Oncology. “This clinic also facilitates improved communication and teamwork between our cancer center and HCI.”

Dr. Daniel Couriel, director of blood and marrow transplant services at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and a professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah, conducts follow-up visits with Western Colorado patients in an exam room at Grand Valley Oncology. A nurse practitioner trained for telemedicine visits helps patients in Grand Junction.

“We have changed the model of care in BMT,” Couriel said. “We are, for the first time, pioneering the idea of bringing cutting-edge care to remote communities without the usual expectation of the patient coming back to Salt Lake City multiple times for followup appointments. This is particularly relevant in a geographic area like ours.”

A patient referred to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for a bone marrow transplant will stay at the cancer hospital there for up to three months. After the transplant, they are expected to return to Salt Lake City for monthly followup visits.

“In transplant, complications are very time-dependent. So if you miss a treatment window of opportunity, it may be very difficult to reverse,” Couriel said. “One of the most common scenarios happens in winter, when a BMT patient from our surrounding areas can’t get to us for their followup visit because of snow storms. That means we may not see them for two or three months. When they do get here, we see complications we could have dealt with much better, earlier. We believe this telemedicine clinic will improve patient outcomes.”

Ben Tanner, executive director of the cancer hospital at the Hunstman Cancer Institute, said there’s a need to extend clinical care to Grand Junction. “This model will allow patients to receive excellent treatment from HCI experts while being able to stay close to home. That is our ultimate goal.”

Another long-term goal, Tanner said, is to set up additional telemedicine clinics at affiliate hospitals located in Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming.