Ongoing Care and Post-Treatment Surveillance
With regards to ongoing care for head and neck oncology patients,
follow-ups are arranged virtually over OTN or via telephone whenever
possible. In-person follow ups are reserved for specific indications,
including patients who develop new or concerning symptoms, those that
require a biopsy or procedure (i.e. new oral lesion that needs biopsy,
new voice symptoms, or needs endoscopic examination), and rarely patient
preference/desire. Currently, a rotating schedule has been implemented
for head and neck surgeons at several hospitals in Toronto, for
evaluation of follow-up patients. For instance, at the Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Odette Cancer Centre, a three-week rotation has been put into
practice for the three head and neck surgeons. With such a schedule,
surgeons are all personally socially distanced from one another,
protecting the capacity for ongoing patient care in cases of illness or
need for formal quarantine.