Transcript
If it’s not urgent, procedural or diagnostic, it likely can be managed in the primary care setting using an eConsult.
eConsult specialists also support patients with chronic conditions and abnormal labs and imaging.
Finally, patients with comorbidities are often good candidates for eConsults.
To diagnose and treat the patient referenced on the right side of the screen, a PCP would need to consider referring her to as many as 3 specialties – Cardiology, Endocrinology and Psychiatry.
Given the patient’s symptoms, the time required to obtain multiple appointments, and the costs of accessing specialty care, a better approach would be to start with an eConsult. In this case, the PCP decided to request a Cardiology eConsult, which identified the recent addition of Atenolol as the source of her symptoms.
Eric Urquiza
Chief Client Officer
Common Challenges to Achieve Clinical Quality Goals: Containment
Containment in healthcare involves equipping providers with the appropriate recommendations to effectively manage a patient’s care within their practice without the need for unnecessary referrals or consultations outside of the practice. This is particularly important in ensuring efficient resource utilization and reducing healthcare costs while maintaining high-quality care. Collaboration between the practice and eConsult providers is crucial in this process. By working closely together, healthcare teams can assess patient needs more comprehensively, share relevant information seamlessly, and leverage specialist expertise when necessary, all while keeping the patient’s care within the primary care setting when possible.
Containment is impacted by:
Specificity of the eConsult request and inclusion of appropriate patient history and testing
One critical factor that impacts containment is the specificity of eConsult requests and the inclusion of appropriate patient history and testing. When healthcare providers submit eConsults with clear and detailed information about the patient’s condition, medical history, and relevant tests, it enables specialists to provide accurate and targeted recommendations. This specificity helps avoid unnecessary procedures, tests, or consultations, reducing healthcare costs and improving efficiency. Additionally, thorough documentation of patient information ensures that healthcare decisions are based on a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s needs, leading to better clinical outcomes and overall satisfaction with care. By emphasizing the importance of detailed eConsult requests and extensive patient information, healthcare organizations can enhance containment efforts and optimize resource utilization while delivering high-quality care.
Specialist experience and the comprehensiveness of the eConsult response
Containment rates in healthcare are significantly influenced by two key factors: specialist experience and the comprehensiveness of the eConsult response. The knowledge and expertise of the specialist providing the eConsult directly impact the quality and effectiveness of the recommendations offered. Specialists with extensive experience in their field can provide more accurate diagnoses, tailored treatment plans, and valuable insights into complex medical conditions. Moreover, the comprehensiveness of the eConsult response, including detailed assessments, clear recommendations, and supporting evidence, plays a crucial role in containment efforts. A comprehensive eConsult response can help primary care providers manage a wider range of patient conditions within their practice, reducing the need for unnecessary referrals and promoting cost-effective care delivery.