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Peeters KMM, Reichel LAM, Muris DMJ, Cals JWL. Family Physician-to-Hospital Specialist Electronic Consultation and Access to Hospital Care: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2351623. [PMID: 38214930 PMCID: PMC10787322 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Globally, health care systems face challenges in managing health care costs while maintaining access to hospital care, quality of care, and a good work balance for caregivers. Electronic consultations (e-consultations)-defined as asynchronous, consultative communication between family physicians and hospital specialists-may offer advantages to face these challenges. Objective To provide a quantitative synthesis of the association of e-consultation with access to hospital care and the avoidance of hospital referrals. Evidence Review A systematic search through PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase was conducted. Eligible studies included original research studies published from January 2010 to March 2023 in English, Dutch, or German that reported on outcomes associated with access to hospital care and the avoidance of hospital referrals. Reference lists of included articles were searched for additional studies. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) scores were assigned to assess quality of evidence. Findings The search strategy resulted in 583 records, of which 72 studies were eligible for data extraction after applying exclusion criteria. Most studies were observational, focused on multispecialty services, and were performed in either Canada or the US. Outcomes on access to hospital care and the avoidance of referrals indicated that e-consultation was associated with improved access to hospital care and an increase in avoided referrals to the hospital specialist, although outcomes greatly differed across studies. GRADE scores were low or very low across studies. Conclusions and Relevance In this systematic review of the association of e-consultation with access to hospital care and the avoidance of hospital referrals, results indicated that the use of e-consultation has greatly increased over the years. Although e-consultation was associated with improved access to hospital care and avoidance of hospital referrals, it was hard to draw a conclusion about these outcomes due to heterogeneity and lack of high-quality evidence (eg, from randomized clinical trials). Nevertheless, these results suggest that e-consultation seems to be a promising digital health care implementation, but more rigorous studies are needed; nonrandomized trial designs should be used, and appropriate outcomes should be chosen in future research on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken M. M. Peeters
- Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Zuyderland Medical Centre, Sittard, the Netherlands
- Omnes Medical Coordinating Centre for Diagnostics and Innovation, Sittard, the Netherlands
| | - Loïs A. M. Reichel
- Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis M. J. Muris
- Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Omnes Medical Coordinating Centre for Diagnostics and Innovation, Sittard, the Netherlands
- Public Health Service South Limburg, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Jochen W. L. Cals
- Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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2
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Vemu PL, Zurlo J, Lew SQ. Telehealth services in an outpatient nephrology clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic: a patient perspective. Int Urol Nephrol 2023; 55:3269-3274. [PMID: 37166551 PMCID: PMC10173904 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-023-03627-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, new policy waivers permitted reimbursement of telehealth services in urban settings. The aim of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic in an outpatient urban nephrology practice. METHODS Patients who had virtual encounters were asked to complete an online survey regarding their experiences with telehealth services. RESULTS Twenty-one percent of eligible patients completed the survey. Patients (83.6%) reported overall positive experiences with telehealth and want to see a hybrid healthcare model in the future (80.1%). Additionally, most patients found telehealth appointments convenient to make and telehealth encounters convenient to conduct. Ethnicity, age, gender, and insurance type did not have a statistically significant impact on satisfaction ratings. Technical issues were not encountered by 79.5% of patients and patients were willing to use the video feature. However, if they had technical issues, patient satisfaction ratings were negatively impacted. CONCLUSION Telehealth services are beneficial to patients with regards to convenience, decreased transportation costs and time, increased accessibility to healthcare, and decreased overall opportunity costs. However, challenges still remain with the deployment of telehealth and will be dependent on patients' digital health literacy, access to broadband internet and devices, and legislation and/or regulations. Limitations of the study, including small sample size and surveying patients from a nephrology practice, may prevent it from being generalizable. Additional studies with a larger sample size and multiple specialties may be needed to generalize patients' satisfaction with telehealth services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasantha L Vemu
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Zurlo
- Department of Psychiatry, Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Susie Q Lew
- Department of Medicine, George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Rm 3-438, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
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3
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Kurek AA, Boone-Sautter KM, Rizor M, Vermeesch K, Ahmed A. Implementation of E-Consults in an Integrated Health System for a Value Population. Popul Health Manag 2023; 26:303-308. [PMID: 37471229 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2023.0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The adoption of e-consults, a form of formal, asynchronous provider-to-provider communication in which specialty medical advice is sought, has been proven to reduce unnecessary specialty consultations, build provider relationships, and reduce fragmentation of care. While the utilization of e-consults is generally a well-accepted alternative method of incorporating specialist expertise into a patient's plan of care and adoption has become common, the implementation of this disruptive care delivery modality can be challenging. This article seeks to describe the process and operational outcomes of e-consult adoption in an integrated health system with a focus on the benefits in the context of value-based care. Implications of e-consult adoption on referral volumes, wait times, and cancellation rates at the service line level are investigated. E-consult adoption and completion metrics, including utilization, completed versus rejected, turn-around times, and projected cost savings, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis A Kurek
- Department of Population Health, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Michelle Rizor
- Department of Population Health, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Kristyn Vermeesch
- Department of Population Health, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Aiesha Ahmed
- Department of Population Health, Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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4
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Impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions due to the use of telemedicine. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12507. [PMID: 35869274 PMCID: PMC9307763 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16864-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Digital health can reduce CO2 emissions thanks to telemedicine and access to digital test results and medical reports. However, the environmental impact of digital health activity is not well known. Here, we show that telemedicine reduces CO2 emissions. We found a net total of 6,655 tons of CO2 emissions decrease through a reduction in patient travel to surgeries and medical clinics thanks to the alternatives of digital appointments and digital access to test results and medical reports, which avoid the need to travel to a clinic for a face-to-face visit or to pick up printed results or reports. During 2020, a total of 640,122 digital appointments were carried out by the health care company, which avoided 1,957 net tons of CO2 emissions, while patients downloaded 3,064,646 digital medical reports through the company portal, which avoided an additional 4,698 net tons of CO2 emissions. Our results demonstrate how digital appointments and digital reports, reduce CO2 emissions by reducing the need for patient travel.
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5
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Stephens J, Greenberg GM. Asynchronous Telehealth. Prim Care 2022; 49:531-541. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2022.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Meeker D, Friedberg MW, Knight TK, Doctor JN, Zein D, Cayasso-McIntosh N, Goldstein NJ, Fox CR, Linder JA, Persell SD, Dea S, Giboney P, Yee HF. Effect of Peer Benchmarking on Specialist Electronic Consult Performance in a Los Angeles Safety-Net: a Cluster Randomized Trial. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:1400-1407. [PMID: 34505234 PMCID: PMC8428492 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07002-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the advent of COVID-19, accelerated adoption of systems that reduce face-to-face encounters has outpaced training and best practices. Electronic consultations (eConsults), structured communications between PCPs and specialists regarding a case, have been effective in reducing face-to-face specialist encounters. As the health system rapidly adapts to multiple new practices and communication tools, new mechanisms to measure and improve performance in this context are needed. OBJECTIVE To test whether feedback comparing physicians to top performing peers using co-specialists' ratings improves performance. DESIGN Cluster-randomized controlled trial PARTICIPANTS: Eighty facility-specialty clusters and 214 clinicians INTERVENTION: Providers in the feedback arms were sent messages that announced their membership in an elite group of "Top Performers" or provided actionable recommendations with feedback for providers that were "Not Top Performers." MAIN MEASURES The primary outcomes were changes in peer ratings in the following performance dimensions after feedback was received: (1) elicitation of information from primary care practitioners; (2) adherence to institutional clinical guidelines; (3) agreement with peer's medical decision-making; (4) educational value; (5) relationship building. KEY RESULTS Specialists showed significant improvements on 3 of the 5 consultation performance dimensions: medical decision-making (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.14, p<.05), educational value (1.86, 1.17-2.96) and relationship building (1.63, 1.13-2.35) (both p<.01). CONCLUSIONS The pandemic has shed light on clinicians' commitment to professionalism and service as we rapidly adapt to changing paradigms. Interventions that appeal to professional norms can help improve the efficacy of new systems of practice. We show that specialists' performance can be measured and improved with feedback using aspirational norms. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov NCT03784950.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Meeker
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, 2250 Alcazar St, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Mark W Friedberg
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tara K Knight
- Sol Price School of Public Policy & Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason N Doctor
- Sol Price School of Public Policy & Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dina Zein
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, 2250 Alcazar St, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | | | - Noah J Goldstein
- Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Craig R Fox
- Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Linder
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stephen D Persell
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stanley Dea
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Paul Giboney
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hal F Yee
- Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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7
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McNeal DM, Fehling K, Ho PM, Kaboli P, Shimada S, Saini SD, Youles B, Albright K. Engaging Stakeholders in Identifying Access Research Priorities for the Department of Veterans Affairs. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:14-21. [PMID: 35349024 PMCID: PMC8993958 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Veterans Access Research Consortium (VARC), a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Consortium of Research focused on access to healthcare, has been funded by VA's Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) to develop a research roadmap for healthcare access. The goal of the roadmap is to identify operationally aligned research questions that are most likely to lead to meaningful improvements in Veterans' healthcare access. OBJECTIVES To describe the process of soliciting diverse stakeholder perspectives about key priorities on which VA's HSR&D access agenda should focus and identify the results of that process. METHODS We used a modified Delphi approach to engage researchers and VA operational partners in a process to develop recommendations regarding the access-related research questions VA should prioritize. We then collaborated with three Veteran Engagement Groups (VEGs) across the country to solicit Veterans' reactions to the Delphi results and their perspectives about access-related issues affecting access to VA health care. RESULTS The Delphi panel consisted of 22 research and operational experts, both internal and external to VA. The Delphi process resulted in five research questions identified by the panelists as highest priority for VA to pursue, each representing one of the following domains: (1) measurement of access, (2) barriers to access, (3) equity and subpopulations, (4) effective interventions to improve access, and (5) consequences of poor/better access. Veterans' perspectives focused primarily on the barriers to access domain. Veterans indicated several barriers that might be addressed through research or operational initiatives, including poor communication about services, weak connections to and partnerships with local community care facilities, and poor provision of telehealth resources and education. CONCLUSIONS Engaging multiple methods to solicit stakeholder perspectives enables more nuanced understanding of access-related priorities for VA. Future research should consider utilizing such an approach to identify additional research and/or operational priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demetria M McNeal
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Academic Office One, 12631 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kelty Fehling
- Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, 1700 N Wheeling St, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - P Michael Ho
- Denver-Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, 1700 N Wheeling St, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Peter Kaboli
- Iowa City VA Center for Access Delivery Research, Iowa VA Healthcare System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA
| | - Stephanie Shimada
- VA Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, 200 Springs Road, Building 70, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
| | - Sameer D Saini
- VA Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, 2215 Fuller Road, Mail Stop 152, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Bradley Youles
- VA Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, 2215 Fuller Road, Mail Stop 152, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Karen Albright
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Academic Office One, 12631 E 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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8
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Malcolm EJ, Brandon Z, Wilson LE, Shoup JP, King HA, Lewinski A, Greiner MA, Malone S, Miller J, Keenan RT, Tarrant TK, Phinney D, Cho A, Bosworth HB, Shah K. eConsults' Impact on Care Access and Wait Times in Rheumatology. J Clin Rheumatol 2022; 28:147-154. [PMID: 35067514 DOI: 10.1097/rhu.0000000000001825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE A growing number of health systems have implemented eConsults to improve access to specialty advice, but few studies have described their use in rheumatology or impact on visit wait times. We evaluated the uptake of an eConsult program and its impact on wait times for in-person rheumatology visits. METHODS In this quality improvement project, we analyzed electronic health record data from 4 intervention clinics and 4 comparison clinics, 12 months before and after implementation of an eConsult program. We compared median wait time for rheumatology appointments using a pre-post difference-in-differences analysis and quantile regression, adjusting for patient age, race, sex, clinic pair, and primary insurance payer. We also interviewed 11 primary care providers from the intervention clinics and conducted a rheumatology provider focus group (n = 4) to elucidate experiences with the program. RESULTS Rheumatologists recommended management in primary care or referral to another specialty for 41% of eConsults, reducing initial demand for in-person visits. The median wait times dropped in the intervention and the comparison clinics (42 and 25 days, respectively). Intervention clinic median wait time dropped 17 days more than comparison clinics, and this was nonstatistically significant (p = 0.089). eConsults fit provider care tasks best for triage or initial workup for diagnosis, and less well when tests required interpretation, or when back and forth communication was needed to manage the patient's condition. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of eConsults for rheumatology was associated with reduced wait times for rheumatology appointments and supported primary care providers in the triage and workup for a substantial portion of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Julie Miller
- From the Duke University School of Medicine, Durham
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9
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Leonard C, Kenney RR, Lee M, Greene P, Whittington M, Kirsh S, Ho PM, Sayre G, Simonetti J. Common Ground: Primary Care and Specialty Clinicians' Perceptions of E-Consults in the Veterans Health Administration. Fed Pract 2022; 39:42-47b. [PMID: 35185320 DOI: 10.12788/fp.0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) introduced electronic consultation (e-consult) to increase access to specialty care. The objective of this study was to understand perceptions of e-consults that may be relevant to increasing adoption in the VA. Methods Deductive and inductive content analysis of semistructured qualitative telephone interviews with VA primary care practitioners (PCPs), specialists, and specialty division chiefs was performed. Participants were identified based on rates of e-consult in 2016 at the individual and facility level within primary care, hematology, cardiology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology. Interview guide development was informed by the Practical, Robust, Implementation, and Sustainability (PRISM) framework. Results We interviewed 35 PCPs and 25 specialists working in 36 facilities. Four themes emerged across both PCPs and specialists: (1) e-consults are best suited for certain types of clinical questions; (2) high-quality e-consults include complete background information from the requesting clinician and clear diagnostic or treatment recommendations from the responding clinician; (3) PCPs and specialists perceive e-consults as a novel opportunity to provide efficient, transparent care; and (4) lack of awareness of e-consults hinders adoption despite obvious benefits. Conclusions We identified themes that are informative for further adoption of high-quality e-consults in the VA. Educating PCPs and specialty practitioners about the benefits of e-consults, and providing support, such as lists of specialties available for e-consults at the facility are 2 such practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Leonard
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Rachael R Kenney
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Marcie Lee
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Preston Greene
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
| | - Melanie Whittington
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Aurora, Colorado.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
| | - Susan Kirsh
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; Veteran Affairs Central Office, Washington, DC
| | - P Michael Ho
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Aurora, Colorado
| | - George Sayre
- Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
| | - Joseph Simonetti
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
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10
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Morcillo Serra C, Aroca Tanarro A. Teleconsultation and videoconsultation forever? MEDICINA CLINICA (ENGLISH ED.) 2022; 158:122-124. [PMID: 36569279 PMCID: PMC9765945 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcle.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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11
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Morcillo Serra C, Aroca Tanarro A. Teleconsultation and videoconsultation forever? Med Clin (Barc) 2022; 158:122-124. [PMID: 34756409 PMCID: PMC8552813 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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12
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da Fonseca MH, Kovaleski F, Picinin CT, Pedroso B, Rubbo P. E-Health Practices and Technologies: A Systematic Review from 2014 to 2019. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9091192. [PMID: 34574966 PMCID: PMC8470487 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9091192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
E-health can be defined as a set of technologies applied with the help of the internet, in which healthcare services are provided to improve quality of life and facilitate healthcare delivery. As there is a lack of similar studies on the topic, this analysis uses a systematic literature review of articles published from 2014 to 2019 to identify the most common e-health practices used worldwide, as well as the main services provided, diseases treated, and the associated technologies that assist in e-health practices. Some of the key results were the identification of the four most common practices used (mhealth or mobile health; telehealth or telemedicine; technology; and others) and the most widely used technologies associated with e-health (IoT, cloud computing, Big Data, security, and systems).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Helena da Fonseca
- Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology—Paraná (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84017-220, Brazil; (F.K.); (C.T.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-42-999388129
| | - Fanny Kovaleski
- Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology—Paraná (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84017-220, Brazil; (F.K.); (C.T.P.)
| | - Claudia Tania Picinin
- Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology—Paraná (UTFPR), Ponta Grossa 84017-220, Brazil; (F.K.); (C.T.P.)
| | - Bruno Pedroso
- Division of Physical Education, State University of Ponta Grossa—Paraná (UEPG), Ponta Grossa 84030-900, Brazil;
| | - Priscila Rubbo
- Department of Accounting Sciences, Federal University of Technology—Paraná (UTFPR), Pato Branco 85503-390, Brazil;
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13
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Vimalananda VG, Orlander JD, Afable MK, Fincke BG, Solch AK, Rinne ST, Kim EJ, Cutrona SL, Thomas DD, Strymish JL, Simon SR. Electronic consultations (E-consults) and their outcomes: a systematic review. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021; 27:471-479. [PMID: 31621847 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocz185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Electronic consultations (e-consults) are clinician-to-clinician communications that may obviate face-to-face specialist visits. E-consult programs have spread within the US and internationally despite limited data on outcomes. We conducted a systematic review of the recent peer-reviewed literature on the effect of e-consults on access, cost, quality, and patient and clinician experience and identified the gaps in existing research on these outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched 4 databases for empirical studies published between 1/1/2015 and 2/28/2019 that reported on one or more outcomes of interest. Two investigators reviewed titles and abstracts. One investigator abstracted information from each relevant article, and another confirmed the abstraction. We applied the GRADE criteria for the strength of evidence for each outcome. RESULTS We found only modest empirical evidence for effectiveness of e-consults on important outcomes. Most studies are observational and within a single health care system, and comprehensive assessments are lacking. For those outcomes that have been reported, findings are generally positive, with mixed results for clinician experience. These findings reassure but also raise concern for publication bias. CONCLUSION Despite stakeholder enthusiasm and encouraging results in the literature to date, more rigorous study designs applied across all outcomes are needed. Policy makers need to know what benefits may be expected in what contexts, so they can define appropriate measures of success and determine how to achieve them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha G Vimalananda
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA.,Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jay D Orlander
- Department of General Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Evans Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melissa K Afable
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Quality, Safety and Value, Partners Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - B Graeme Fincke
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA.,Section of Health Law, Policy & Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amanda K Solch
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Seppo T Rinne
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA.,Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eun Ji Kim
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine, Hofstra Northwell, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Sarah L Cutrona
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dylan D Thomas
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA.,Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Judith L Strymish
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven R Simon
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Geriatrics and Extended Care Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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14
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Liddy C, Sethuram C, Mihan A, Moroz I, Keely E. Primary Care Providers' Perspectives on the Ontario eConsult Program. Telemed J E Health 2020; 27:1039-1045. [PMID: 33252320 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2020.0338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Electronic consultation (eConsult) allows asynchronous virtual communication between primary care providers (PCPs) and specialists regarding patient care. Introduction: The Ontario eConsult Program enables timely and equitable access to specialist advice for Ontarians. This study examines clinicians' perspectives and experiences with the program. Materials and Methods: We conducted an anonymous survey of PCPs registered for the Ontario eConsult Program. The survey ran from June to August 2019 and included questions on PCPs' experiences with the service, opinions on remuneration, and recommendations for enhancement. Results: One thousand two hundred fifty-six PCPs completed the survey (response rate of 16%). Seventy-eight percent had submitted an eConsult, of whom 67% were active users (i.e., had submitted ≥3 eConsults in the past 6 months). The majority of PCPs stated that their user experience was very good (57%) or good (31%), 74% agreed that eConsult improved their referral decision making, and 73% agreed that eConsult increased their ability to manage a broader array of diagnoses. Thirty-seven percent felt adequately compensated for using eConsult, 30% wanted higher rates of remuneration, and 31% were not compensated or were unaware of the fee code. Discussion: The majority of PCPs who use eConsult had positive experiences with the service. Nevertheless, improvements to further streamline the service's use, particularly through electronic medical record integration, were broadly cited as a desirable improvement. Conclusions: PCPs expressed an overall positive experience with the Ontario eConsult Program, citing prompt response times and improved care delivery as chief benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Liddy
- C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Claire Sethuram
- C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ariana Mihan
- C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Isabella Moroz
- C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Erin Keely
- Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
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15
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Robblee J, Starling AJ. E‐Consultation in Headache Medicine: A Quality Improvement Pilot Study. Headache 2020; 60:2192-2201. [DOI: 10.1111/head.13981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Robblee
- Department of Neurology Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center Phoenix AZ USA
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16
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Hellingman T, Swart MED, Meijerink MR, Schreurs WH, Zonderhuis BM, Kazemier G. Optimization of transmural care by implementation of an online expert panel to assess treatment strategy in patients suffering from colorectal cancer liver metastases: A prospective analysis. J Telemed Telecare 2020; 28:559-567. [PMID: 33019855 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x20957136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Centralization of oncological care results in a growing demand for specialized consultations and referrals. Improved telemedicine solutions are needed to facilitate access to specialist care and select patients eligible for referral. The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to optimize transmural care for patients suffering from colorectal cancer liver metastases through implementation of an online expert panel. METHODS A digital communication platform was developed to share medical data, including high-quality diagnostic imaging of patients suffering from colorectal cancer liver metastases. Feasibility of local treatment strategies was assessed by a panel of liver specialists to select patients for referral. After implementation, an observational cohort study was conducted to evaluate quality improvement in transmural care using revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence guidelines. RESULTS From September 2016-September 2018, eight hospitals were connected to the platform, covering a population of 3 m. In total, 123 cases were assessed, of which 54 (43.9%) were prevented from needless physical referral. Assessment of treatment strategy by an online expert panel significantly reduced the average lead time during multidisciplinary team meetings from 3.73 min to 2.12 min per patient (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of an online expert panel is an innovative, accessible and user-friendly way to provide cancer-specific expertise to regional hospitals. E-consultation of such panels may result in more efficient multidisciplinary team meetings and prevent fragile patients from needless referral. Sustainability of these panels however is subject to structural financial compensation, so a cost-effectiveness analysis is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Hellingman
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Merijn E de Swart
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martijn R Meijerink
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Barbara M Zonderhuis
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Geert Kazemier
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Kho J, Gillespie N, Martin-Khan M. A systematic scoping review of change management practices used for telemedicine service implementations. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:815. [PMID: 32873295 PMCID: PMC7461334 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05657-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telemedicine improves access to health care services enabling remote care diagnosis and treatment of patients at a distance. However, the implementation of telemedicine services often pose challenges stemming from the lack of attention to change management (CM). Health care practitioners and researchers agree that successful telemedicine services require significant organizational and practice change. Despite recognizing the importance of the "people-side" of implementation, research on what constitutes best practice CM strategies for telemedicine implementations remains fragmented, offering little cohesive insight into the specific practices involved in the change process. We conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature to examine what and how CM practices have been applied to telemedicine service implementation, spanning a variety of health care areas and countries. METHODS Three bibliographic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, and ISI Web of Science) and four specialist telehealth journals were searched. To keep the review manageable and relevant to contemporary telemedicine technologies and contexts, the search was limited to articles published from 2008 to 2019. Forty-eight articles were selected for inclusion. RESULTS From the 48 articles, 16 CM practices were identified relating to either strategic or operational aspects of telemedicine implementations. We identify the key CM practices that are recognized in the broader CM literature as essential for successful and sustained change but are not commonly reported in telemedicine implementation studies. We draw on the CM literature to provide a comprehensive process-based, researched-informed, organizing framework to guide future telemedicine service implementations and research. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the slow rate of adoption of telemedicine may be due to a piecemeal approach to the change process, and a lack of understanding of how to plan, manage and reinforce change when implementing telemedicine services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kho
- UQ Business School, The University of Queensland, Colin Clark Building 39 Blair Drive, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Nicole Gillespie
- UQ Business School, The University of Queensland, Colin Clark Building 39 Blair Drive, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Melinda Martin-Khan
- Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Mustafa SS, Staicu ML, Yang L, Baumeister T, Vadamalai K, Ramsey A. Inpatient Electronic Consultations (E-consults) in Allergy/Immunology. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2020; 8:2968-2973. [PMID: 32585408 PMCID: PMC7307996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Electronic consultations (e-consults) are asynchronous clinician-to-clinician exchanges within the electronic health record (EHR). Objective We sought to demonstrate the utility of e-consults in allergy/immunology (A/I) inpatient consultations. Methods Inpatients ≥18 years of age for whom an A/I consultation was requested were eligible for an e-consult. An e-consult was completed if considered appropriate by the A/I physician with recommendations made in the EHR. In-person consultation was performed for inpatients if deemed necessary. Likert scale satisfaction data were collected from requesting providers after the e-consultation. Cost was calculated using time-based billing codes plus the cost of penicillin allergy evaluation, if appropriate. Results Of the 109 inpatient consults, 78 (71.6%) were completed through an e-consult and 31 (28.4%) were completed by an in-person consult. The most common indication for an inpatient consult was evaluation of penicillin allergy in 73 (67%) patients. The most common reason to complete an in-person consult was the need to complete penicillin skin testing in 17 of the 31 (55%) patients. E-consults were completed in less time than in-person consults (15 minutes, interquartile range [IQR]: 10-15 vs 60 minutes, IQR: 45-60, P < .001) and had a shorter turnaround time (1 hour, IQR: 0.5-2 vs 7 hours, IQR: 3-19, P < .001). Management recommendations were followed at a similar rate regardless of type of consult (88% of e-consults vs 96% of in-person consults, P = .162). A total of 97% of requesting providers reported an “excellent” or “good” impression of e-consults. E-consults were less costly than in-person consults. Conclusions E-consults have utility in providing inpatient A/I consultation and may have advantages over in-person evaluation, while adequately maintaining provider satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Shahzad Mustafa
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
| | - Mary L Staicu
- Department of Pharmacy, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY
| | - Luanna Yang
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY
| | - Tyler Baumeister
- Department of Pharmacy, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY
| | | | - Allison Ramsey
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
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Nikolaidis Y, Efthymiadis G, Angelidis P. Quality assessment of a second opinion telemedicine service. HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12553-019-00343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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