Comparing virtual consults to traditional consults using an electronic health record: an observational case-control study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients have typically received health care through face-to-face encounters. However, expansion of electronic communication and electronic health records (EHRs) provide alternative means for patient and physicians to interact. Electronic consultations may complement regular healthcare by providing "better, faster, cheaper" processes for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring health conditions. Virtual consultation between physicians may provide a method of streamlining care, potentially saving patients the time and expense of added visits. The purpose of this study was to compare physician usage and patient satisfaction with virtual consultations (VCs) with traditional consultations (TCs) facilitated within an EHR.

Methods

We conducted an observational case-control

SUBMITTER: Palen TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3502437 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature