An eConsultant versus a hospital-based outpatient consultation for general (internal) medicine: a costing analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The eConsultant model of care is an outpatient substitution approach which has been evaluated and implemented extensively internationally. It provides an asynchronous, digital, clinician-to-clinician advice service, giving primary care physicians remote access to specialist support for patient care within 3 business days. Results from initial trials of the eConsultant model in Australia support international evidence of reduced wait times and improved access to specialist input, avoidance of face-to-face hospital outpatient visits, and better integrated care. This study compared the cost of delivery of an eConsultant episode of care with that of a hospital-based outpatient appointment.

Methods

A cost-minimisation analysis, using a decision analytic model, was used

SUBMITTER: Job J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10174616 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature