Andrew S Oseran1, Jason H Wasfy2. 1. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. 2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address: jwasfy@mgh.harvard.edu.
Abstract
Many health systems have begun implementing electronic consultation programs. The clinical and financial impact of these programs in cardiology and the potential for more widespread adoption remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the current literature related to electronic consultation in cardiology. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review in August 2018 of English literature. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases for studies related to electronic consultation in cardiology. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included. Two of the studies were randomized controlled trials, 16 were quantitative studies with defined endpoints, and 3 were qualitative descriptions. Most studies were conducted in the United States and Canada. The available literature suggests cardiology e-consult programs can be implemented in different practice settings, have good patient and provider satisfaction, deliver greater and timelier access to outpatient cardiac care, and do so in a cost saving fashion. While studies suggest cardiology e-consultation is safe, there are no studies evaluating hard clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiology e-consults appear to be a promising tool for increasing access to outpatient cardiac care. Further investigation is required to evaluate the effects of cardiology electronic consultation on the quality of care. CONDENSED ABSTRACT: Here we present the first systematic review of electronic consultation in cardiology. The available literature suggests cardiology e-consult programs can be implemented in different practice settings, have good patient and provider satisfaction, deliver greater and timelier access to outpatient cardiac care, and do so in a cost saving fashion. While studies suggest cardiology e-consultation is safe, there are no studies evaluating hard clinical outcomes. Overall, cardiology e-consults appear to be a promising tool for increasing access to outpatient cardiac care. Further investigation is required to evaluate the effects of cardiology electronic consultation on the quality of care.
Many health systems have begun implementing electronic consultation programs. The clinical and financial impact of these programs in cardiology and the potential for more widespread adoption remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the current literature related to electronic consultation in cardiology. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review in August 2018 of English literature. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases for studies related to electronic consultation in cardiology. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included. Two of the studies were randomized controlled trials, 16 were quantitative studies with defined endpoints, and 3 were qualitative descriptions. Most studies were conducted in the United States and Canada. The available literature suggests cardiology e-consult programs can be implemented in different practice settings, have good patient and provider satisfaction, deliver greater and timelier access to outpatient cardiac care, and do so in a cost saving fashion. While studies suggest cardiology e-consultation is safe, there are no studies evaluating hard clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiology e-consults appear to be a promising tool for increasing access to outpatient cardiac care. Further investigation is required to evaluate the effects of cardiology electronic consultation on the quality of care. CONDENSED ABSTRACT: Here we present the first systematic review of electronic consultation in cardiology. The available literature suggests cardiology e-consult programs can be implemented in different practice settings, have good patient and provider satisfaction, deliver greater and timelier access to outpatient cardiac care, and do so in a cost saving fashion. While studies suggest cardiology e-consultation is safe, there are no studies evaluating hard clinical outcomes. Overall, cardiology e-consults appear to be a promising tool for increasing access to outpatient cardiac care. Further investigation is required to evaluate the effects of cardiology electronic consultation on the quality of care.
Authors: Brian R Lindman; Suzanne V Arnold; Rodrigo Bagur; Lindsay Clarke; Megan Coylewright; Frank Evans; Judy Hung; Sandra B Lauck; Susan Peschin; Vandana Sachdev; Lisa M Tate; Jason H Wasfy; Catherine M Otto Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2020-04-24 Impact factor: 5.501
Authors: Chiara M Corbetta-Rastelli; Tamandra K Morgan; Nazaneen Homaifar; Lisa Deangelis; Amy M Autry Journal: J Med Syst Date: 2021-04-06 Impact factor: 4.460