Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
23:56
Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: November 1, 2010
Ask the eConsultant: Improving access to haematology expertise using an asynchronous eConsult system.
Adam Fogel1, Karima Khamisa2,3, Amir Afkham4
11 Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada.
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
|April 24, 2016
Summary
Primary care providers found the Champlain BASE eConsultation service highly valuable for accessing hematology expertise. This service improved access to specialists and reduced the need for face-to-face referrals, benefiting patients and the healthcare system.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Health Services Research
- Hematology
Background:
- Limited access to specialist care in Canada results in long wait times and adverse patient outcomes.
- The Champlain BASE (Building Access to Specialists through eConsultation) service aims to improve specialist access.
- Hematology eConsults are a key component of this initiative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the utilization, content, and perceived value of hematology eConsults.
- To assess the impact of eConsults on the need for traditional referrals.
- To evaluate the efficiency and benefits of the eConsult service for primary care providers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing descriptive statistics.
- Analysis of post-eConsult surveys from primary care providers (PCPs).
- Review and categorization of hematology eConsults by clinical topic and question type (April 2011-January 2015).
Main Results:
- Hematology eConsults represented 7.8% of all eConsults, ranking third in utilization.
- A face-to-face consultation was avoided in 66% of cases.
- Common queries involved anemia, neutropenia, hyperferritinemia, and laboratory test interpretation; most were answered within 3 days.
Conclusions:
- The eConsult service significantly increases access to hematology expertise for primary care providers.
- The service has the potential to decrease wait times for non-urgent consultations and reduce healthcare costs.
- Primary care providers highly value the eConsult service for managing hematological conditions efficiently.
