eConsult Criteria and Referral Order Process
eConsult Criteria for Requesting Specialist Advice
Cindy Craddock, RN
Here’s a sample of eConsults criteria. This is very high level, very black and white; obviously, as you know, there’s a lot more granular that you could read into this. Basically, we have over 70 specialties and sub-specialty areas. The first step is to look at a referral order. If it’s an urgent procedure-related diagnostic, too complex, maybe if it’s a patient that has, you know, stage four renal failure, they see a nephrologist every month. Obviously, those will not be conducive to eConsults. Anything else is the first step “Yes, you can submit an eConsult.”
Now that’s not to say that you’ll never have the patient seen in person, but it’s definitely just kind of a quick triage guide to help you know, what an e-consult can be used for. We’ve seen when we’ve implemented new clinics that are trying to implement the regular referral process, instead of trying to think of “what can be an eConsult,” just look at every referral you’re about to order if you rep to order a referral for your patient. Ask yourself, “is this urgent? Is this a procedure I’m ordering or a diagnostic? Or is this patient already established in this complex?”. If not, then you can think, “I think I maybe can do this as an e-consult.”
Sometimes you don’t know what you would submit if you haven’t seen the results, so that’s just a good way to start.
8 Ways eConsult Services are Used by PCPs
eConsult services are an easy way for primary care providers (PCPs) and their patients to access specialty care. PCPs across the country are using eConsult solutions as an effective telehealth resource to improve access, quality, outcomes, and satisfaction–all while reducing patient out-of-pocket costs.
eConsult platforms, such as AristaMD’s eConsult platform, allow primary care providers (PCPs) to obtain care planning advice and treatment recommendations from specialists in >70 specialty areas, within 24 hours, over 50% responded to within 4 hours.
As “curbside” consults are no longer viable due to liability, electronic consultations provide PCPs with access to expert advice within a significantly simpler workflow. Rather than waiting on the phone or being pulled out of a room for a return call, the eConsult workflow is seamlessly integrated into the referral process and specialist information is available quickly, and when expected.
eConsults have even been shown effective in more complex specialties such as Hematology & Rheumatology. AristaMD eConsults always include necessary diagnostics, recent visit notes, and images according to our workup checklists, allowing specialists to provide meaningful, actionable input allowing treatment at the primary care level in over 70% of submitted cases, eliminating the need for a specialist visit.