Krista Rostom1,2, C Douglas Smith1,2, Clare Liddy1,2, Amir Afkham1,2, Erin Keely3,4. 1. From the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa; Division of Rheumatology, The Ottawa Hospital; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa; C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute; Champlain Local Health Integration Network; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinic; Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 2. K. Rostom, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa; C.D. Smith, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Division of Rheumatology, The Ottawa Hospital; C. Liddy, MD, MSc, CCFP, FCFPC, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, and C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute; A. Afkham, Champlain Local Health Integration Network; E. Keely, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinic, and Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, Ottawa Hospital. 3. From the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa; Division of Rheumatology, The Ottawa Hospital; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa; C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute; Champlain Local Health Integration Network; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinic; Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ekeely@toh.on.ca. 4. K. Rostom, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa; C.D. Smith, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Division of Rheumatology, The Ottawa Hospital; C. Liddy, MD, MSc, CCFP, FCFPC, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, and C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute; A. Afkham, Champlain Local Health Integration Network; E. Keely, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Clinic, and Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, Ottawa Hospital. ekeely@toh.on.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the use and benefits of an innovative eConsult service to improve access to rheumatologists. METHODS: There were 225 eConsults directed to rheumatology that were categorized by type of question and effect on face-to-face referral rates. RESULTS: The median response time by the rheumatologists was 1.9 days. Clinical questions included drug treatment (34%), diagnosis (26%), or management (14%). Osteoporosis was the most common diagnosis (22%), followed by pain in multiple joints (11%), and polyarthritis (10%). A face-to-face referral was avoided in 38% of cases. CONCLUSION: There are clinical questions that can be answered quickly by an eConsult, improving access to rheumatologists.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the use and benefits of an innovative eConsult service to improve access to rheumatologists. METHODS: There were 225 eConsults directed to rheumatology that were categorized by type of question and effect on face-to-face referral rates. RESULTS: The median response time by the rheumatologists was 1.9 days. Clinical questions included drug treatment (34%), diagnosis (26%), or management (14%). Osteoporosis was the most common diagnosis (22%), followed by pain in multiple joints (11%), and polyarthritis (10%). A face-to-face referral was avoided in 38% of cases. CONCLUSION: There are clinical questions that can be answered quickly by an eConsult, improving access to rheumatologists.
Authors: Varsha G Vimalananda; Jay D Orlander; Melissa K Afable; B Graeme Fincke; Amanda K Solch; Seppo T Rinne; Eun Ji Kim; Sarah L Cutrona; Dylan D Thomas; Judith L Strymish; Steven R Simon Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2020-03-01 Impact factor: 4.497