Increased access to pediatric specialist healthcare using eConsult: A retrospective observational cohort and case-control study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Primary care practitioners (PCPs) report that using the Champlain BASE™ eConsult service (eConsult) averts one-third of face-to-face (FTF) specialist referrals, however, there are concerns about duplication of services and adverse patient outcomes. Following an eConsult, we evaluated patient healthcare utilization and associated treatment costs.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study (2014 to 2018) of patients (<18 years old) for whom an eConsult visit averted a FTF specialist referral. Patients were linked to provincial health administrative databases and hospital electronic medical records for healthcare use for the same diagnosis and specialty for the 18 months following the eConsult. Concurrently, a retrospective case-control study compared utilization and costs b

SUBMITTER: Lai L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12208371 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature