Improving Access to Specialist Care for an Aging Population

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Older adults often face challenges accessing specialist care due to mobility issues and comorbidities.
• Timely access to specialists is crucial for managing complex health conditions in the elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Champlain. BASE (Building Access to Specialists through eConsultation) eConsult service on healthcare access for patients aged 65 and older.
• To assess the efficiency and value of the eConsult service in geriatric care.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 1,796 eConsult cases for patients over 65 years old submitted between April 2011 and July 2015.
• Utilized service utilization data and primary care provider survey responses.
• Examined response times, value ratings, and subsequent referral rates.

Main Results:

• Specialists responded to eConsult cases within a median of 0.8 days.
• 94% of providers found the eConsult service to be of great or excellent value.
• 68% of cases did not necessitate a face-to-face visit, and only 28% led to a referral.

Conclusions:

• The Champlain. BASE eConsult service enhances access to specialist care for older persons.
• The platform offers a valuable, efficient solution for improving wait times and reducing the need for in-person consultations in geriatric medicine.