“Digitally Empowered” Program Helps Cancer Patients Get
Tech-Savvy
By StoryStudio on September 28, 2023 11:19 AM
Cancer does not discriminate. The second-leading cause of death worldwide, the disease does not distinguish by race, gender, ethnicity, or geography. But while cancer is blind when it comes to most demographic information, it does tend to impact some groups disproportionately: older adults and other underrepresented communities.
This disease can be devastating for patients of all age groups, young and old, but the fact remains that 60% of people who have cancer are aged 65 and older. And these days, older adults and other underrepresented communities tend to experience the disease differently because they are not always digital natives. In our current digital age, the internet is the gateway to vast medical resources, from telehealth and patient portals to clinical trials and the latest cutting-edge research. Social media also holds the key to a massive support network. But many Americans live in rural areas where they don’t have access to the internet and many others just don’t have the experience or technical savvy to navigate this unfamiliar online terrain.
The Patient Empowerment Network (PEN), a non-profit dedicated to putting cancer patients in control of their own healthcare, is trying to bridge that gap. In collaboration with Pfizer Oncology’s Patient Advocacy Team, PEN has created Digitally Empowered, a series of programs designed to boost digital literacy and empower patients and their caretakers to take charge of their healthcare.
SPONSORED BY Pfizer
Starting face-to-face
We saw the gap in the ability of older adults and other underrepresented communities to navigate their telemedicine appointments. We knew that needed to be addressed. That’s why we partnered with PEN, and why we prioritize partnerships with patient advocacy groups as we endeavor to address components of health literacy.
Digitally Empowered has roots in another PEN program — and in a PEN employee’s personal experience. In 2016, Andrea Conners, then Executive Director of PEN, was taking care of her mother, who was terminally ill and alone with her ailment. Desperate to provide emotional support, Conners connected her mother to the internet, teaching her to search the web for reliable information about her illness and how to use social media to connect to others experiencing the same thing.
Conners saw the comfort this provided her mother and decided PEN could do the same thing for other older adults living with cancer. They formed the digital sherpa program, which conducted in-person workshops in community centers, treatment rooms, and support groups. PEN representatives witnessed firsthand what patients were most curious about, which tools they needed most help with, and what methods worked best to teach them. This feedback helped them build a solid working model that empowered individuals and families across the country.
Then came the pandemic.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of people were suddenly unable to visit their doctors’ offices. This accelerated the need for a strong online healthcare infrastructure — and the patients’ knowledge of technology to use it.
"We saw the gap in the ability of older adults and other underrepresented communities to navigate their telemedicine appointments. We knew that needed to be addressed. That’s why we partnered with PEN, and why we prioritize partnerships with patient advocacy groups as we endeavor to address components of health literacy." says Katrina M. Johnson, U.S. Director of Advocacy and Professional Relations for Pfizer Oncology.
Digitally Empowered modules are focused on basic elements of the modern online healthcare experience. Even as the pandemic-era shutdowns have been lifted, plenty of people are still left without the necessary tools to take command of their own care. And it’s not just older adults — according to the Federal Communications Commission, 25% of people living in rural communities and tribal areas still lack reliable broadband access. Those rural residents are also less likely to own a smartphone or computer.
Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod placeat.
LOREM IPSUM SIT
DISCOVER
2/2
Digital empowerment
Helping patients connect
“Most cancer patients spend a limited amount of time with their doctors and care team,” says Reagan LaBor, MHA, Partnerships and Programs Coordinator for PEN. “Trying to navigate things at home is a challenge, especially if you don’t know technology. It advances so quickly —even those of us who work from home and use tech all the time are learning something new every day. It’s even more confusing for those who don’t know the basics.”
Digitally Empowered consists of easy-to-follow video modules that explain and illustrate everything from how to access the internet to how to use telemedicine, providing a road map for the digital world of healthcare.
There is also a strong focus on reliable and credible sources for all health information provided.
“Everything we do is based in scientific evidence,” says Tracy Rode, PEN Executive Director. “That’s one reason Pfizer values the relationship: we make sure that, in addition to our observations, we also provide that foundation of scientific evidence and research.”
Together, Pfizer and PEN aim to create more modules based on patient needs and find ways to reach more patients, which will help bridge the digital divide and assist all cancer patients in getting the best care, information, and support throughout their journey.
For more information about Digitally Empowered, visit the PEN website.
Pfizer saw the need and had the resources and expertise to provide reliable and actionable educational tools to patients in need, and PEN had the grassroots support and networks already deployed in communities all over the country.
With Pfizer’s help, PEN was able to quickly pivot and create Digitally Empowered, a series of video modules to help cancer patients stranded during the pandemic, and beyond.
Digitally Empowered also incorporates an emphasis on making newly minted online patients feel safe by securing their sensitive personal information when they are communicating via the web. This includes password verification, two-factor authentication, and avoiding various online phishing scams while navigating the internet.
With help from Pfizer, PEN has been able to bridge that gap. Digitally Empowered modules cover a wide array of topics, including:
Learn More
How to access the internet
Identifying credible resources and websites
The benefits of your patient portal
Using social media to connect and learn
Navigating your health with mobile services
The best apps for convenience and fun
How to use telemedicine
Accessing and joining online support communities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How to access the internet
Identifying credible resources and websites
The benefits of your patient portal
Using social media to connect and learn
Navigating your health with mobile services
The best apps for convenience and fun
How to use telemedicine
Accessing and joining online support communities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.