Family Physician-to-Hospital Specialist Electronic Consultation and Access to Hospital Care: A Systematic Review.

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 associate

SUBMITTER: Peeters KMM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10787322 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature