J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2022;33(2):779-789. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0063.
This study evaluated the impact of eConsults on access to specialty care for uninsured patients in Central Texas.
eConsults for four specialties, cardiology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, and endocrinology, were implemented in a large, multi-site federally qualified health center. Data were collected on specialty care access and utilization for a one-year period before and after implementation of the new process.
Prior to implementation, 23% of uninsured patients referred to the included specialties completed a visit with a specialist. After implementation, 62% received a specialty consultation either through an eConsult or with a face-to-face visit. Wait times for referrals improved from a median of 54 days to seven days.
This project demonstrated that eConsults improve access and reduce wait times for specialty care for uninsured patients. Interventions such as this have the potential to reduce health inequalities by providing timely access to care for common specialty concerns.
本研究评估了电子咨询对德克萨斯州中部无保险患者获得专科医疗服务的影响。
在一家大型、多站点的联邦合格医疗中心，针对心脏病学、胃肠病学、风湿病学和内分泌学这四个专科实施了电子咨询。在实施新流程前后的一年时间里，收集了专科医疗服务的可及性和使用情况的数据。
在实施前，被转介至纳入专科的 23%的无保险患者完成了与专科医生的就诊。实施后，62%的患者通过电子咨询或面对面就诊接受了专科会诊。转诊的等待时间从中位数 54 天缩短至 7 天。
该项目表明，电子咨询可改善无保险患者获得专科医疗服务的机会，并缩短等待时间。此类干预措施有可能通过为常见专科问题提供及时的医疗服务来减少健康不平等。
