Dataset Information

Internet based consultations to transfer knowledge for patients requiring specialised care: retrospective case review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess whether transferring knowledge from specialists at centres of excellence to referring doctors through online consultations can improve the management of patients requiring specialised care.

Design

Retrospective case review of the first year of internet based patient initiated consultations between referring doctors and consulting specialists.

Setting

US teaching hospitals affiliated with an organisation providing internet based consultations.

Participants

Doctors in various settings around the world engaging in internet based consultations with specialists.

Main outcome measures

New recommendations for treatment, change in diagnosis, and turnaround time for consultation compared with time to see a specialist.

Results

79 consultations took place. 90% (n=71) of consultations were for services related to oncology. 90% of consultations involved new recommendations for treatment. The most common recommendation was a new chemotherapeutic regimen (68%, n=54). Diagnosis changed in 5% (n=4) of cases. The average turnaround time was 6.8 working days compared with an average of 19 working days to see a comparable specialist.

Conclusions

Internet based consultations between specialists at centres of excellence and referring doctors contribute to patient care through recommendations for new treatment and timely access to specialist knowledge. Although change in diagnosis occurred in only a few cases, the prognostic and therapeutic implications for these patients may be profound.

SUBMITTER: Kedar I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC152369 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Internet based consultations to transfer knowledge for patients requiring specialised care: retrospective case review.

Kedar Iris I Ternullo Joseph L JL Weinrib Carol E CE Kelleher Kathleen M KM Brandling-Bennett Heather H Kvedar Joseph C JC

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20030301 7391

<h4>Objective</h4>To assess whether transferring knowledge from specialists at centres of excellence to referring doctors through online consultations can improve the management of patients requiring specialised care.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective case review of the first year of internet based patient initiated consultations between referring doctors and consulting specialists.<h4>Setting</h4>US teaching hospitals affiliated with an organisation providing internet based consultations.<h4>Particip ...[more]

PMID: 12663408

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Dataset Information

Internet based consultations to transfer knowledge for patients requiring specialised care: retrospective case review.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Internet based consultations to transfer knowledge for patients requiring specialised care: retrospective case review.

Similar Datasets

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