Improving Access to Endocrinologists through Provider-to-Provider eConsultations

Abstract

Access to specialty healthcare care remains a major issue for many Canadians. Not only are wait times long, but other barriers contribute to inequitable access. These include the patient’s ability to attend appointments (e.g. related to transportation difficulties and/or cost), and the ability of some patients to participate in an appointment (e.g. due to cognitive impairment, mobility challenges, loss of wages, or degree of comfort with a new provider). Informal consultations between healthcare providers have always played a role in healthcare access. The “call a colleague” approach works well when a practitioner is able to contact a colleague by telephone and an established network of specialists exists; however, it is inefficient, does not facilitate record-keeping for medico-legal purposes and follow-up, and is not remunerated. One way to help address these obstacles is through inter-provider electronic consultations (eConsults).