Electronic Consultation Between Primary Care Providers and Radiologists.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Effective communication between primary care providers (PCPs) and radiologists is crucial for optimal diagnostic imaging interpretation.
• Traditional consultation methods can present challenges in timeliness and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of an electronic consultation platform connecting PCPs and radiologists.
• To assess the impact of electronic consultations on patient care and identify educational needs for PCPs.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 302 electronic consultations from September 2012 to January 2017.
• Consultations were categorized by subspecialty, question type, anatomy, and pathology.
• Primary care provider feedback surveys assessed timeliness, value, and impact on patient care.

Main Results:

• Abdominal radiology (31%) and neuroradiology (25%) were the most frequent subspecialties consulted.
• Most consultations concerned patient workup (37%) and surveillance (31%).
• Patient management was altered in 55% of cases, and unnecessary testing was avoided in 28%.

Conclusions:

• The electronic consultation system facilitated easy access to radiologist expertise for PCPs.
• The platform was highly valued by PCPs, leading to improved patient management and reduced unnecessary imaging.
• Opportunities for continuing medical education were identified in the imaging workup of pain and follow-up of cystic lesions.