Implementation of an EConsult System with Patient Navigation.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Patient Navigation

Background:

• Access to specialty care is a significant challenge for patients with Medicaid insurance.
• Community health centers often face resource limitations in providing comprehensive specialty services.
• Effective care coordination is crucial for managing patient health journeys.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a system connecting community health centers with academic medical centers for electronic specialty consultations.
• To assess the impact of this system on specialty care access and patient navigation.
• To identify patient-reported outcomes, including experiences with care coordination.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an electronic consultation system linking a community health center with an academic medical center.
• Provision of navigation services for follow-up tests and appointments.
• Data collection on specialty access, patient navigation, and care coordination experiences.

Main Results:

• Improved access to electronic specialty consultations for patients with Medicaid.
• Patients received navigation support for diagnostic tests and appointments.
• Some patients reported a burden due to a lack of overall care coordination.

Conclusions:

• Electronic specialty consultation systems can enhance access to expert medical advice.
• Integrating digital health tools requires careful attention to overall care coordination.
• Future interventions should focus on seamless patient navigation and integrated care management.