Case Studies
Evaluation of the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Electronic Consultation Use in Primary Care
The use of e-consult has emerged as a useful tool for primary care providers (PCPs) to quickly obtain non-urgent, patient-specific, expert advice from specialists. The COVID-19 pandemic forced health systems to rapidly implement and scale telehealth alternatives to in-person care to prevent exposure to the contagious respiratory virus. A recent study from Massachusetts General Hospital…
Read MoreE-Consult: An Opportunity for Financial and Operational Innovation
Catalyst, a New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) publication, released a case study titled E-Consult Innovation: A Middle-Ground Model To Enhance Adoption and Improve Care. This study tested the efficacy of alternative operational and financial models for e-Consult. HealthPartners designed a vertically integrated system that engaged third-party payers and implemented an in-house method to compensate specialists and primary care…
Read MoreJuly 2020 E-Consult Workgroup Webinar
This month’s webinar started with presentations by Grace Song, MD, CA Correctional Health Services Deputy Medical Executive and Stanley Frencher, Jr., MD, CEO of HubMD on increased e-consult use for correctional healthcare since the COVID-19 surge. Then Aasta Thielke, MPH from the Center for Evidence-Based Policy, gave a detailed presentation on the research methods and conclusions of…
Read MoreeConsults: A Triple Win for Patients, Clinicians and Payers (Milbank Foundation)
Milbank Foundation-supported literature review of successful e-consult programs. https://www.milbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/eConsults_Milbank_Report_v4.pdf
Read MorePandemic Changes what Doctor’s Visits Look Like
In this opinion piece, Dr. Barnett argues that fewer visits caused by the pandemic is a much needed and welcome change in managing patients’ healthcare. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/11/after-pandemic-visiting-doctor-will-never-be-same-thats-fine/
Read MorePatients Assess an eConsult Model’s Acceptability at 5 US Academic Medical Centers (UC San Francisco)
UCSF assessment of patient acceptance of e-consult in academic medical centers across the US. https://www.annfammed.org/content/18/1/35.full
Read MoreLA County Maternal Mental Health E-Consult Pilot: Provider Willingness and IT Challenges
E-Consult supports women struggling with maternal mental health needs. Access PDF article here:
Read MoreNorth County Health Services and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan Collaborate to Bring Safety Net Patients High-Quality Care
A California Medi-Cal managed care plan demonstrates support for an FQHC e-consult program.
Read MoreSanta Clara County: Improving the Referral Process and Creating a Culture of Collaboration with E-Consult
A Santa Clara FQHC and public hospital share their collaborative e-consult program.
Read MoreAlameda Health System and Community Health Center Network: E-Consult Collaboration Delivers High Quality Patient Care
An Alameda County FQHC and public hospital collaborate to improve their e-consult and referral processes.
Read MoreLos Angeles County: E-Consult Puts Patient With Colon Cancer On Fast Track to Treatment
An LA provider shares his experience addressing a patient’s colon cancer through e-consult.
Read More