Pediatric Dermatology eConsultation in Academic Centers: A Collaborative Model for Optimized Outpatient Care

The demand for pediatric dermatology services in the U.S. is high, especially at large academic healthcare centers. eConsultation programs provide a solution to poor in-person access by offering diagnostic and management support to primary care providers (PCPs). To determine the real-world utility of eConsultation in pediatric dermatology within a closed system at a major academic center, we assessed the outcomes, diagnostic and management concordance, and predictors of eConsult completion of an asynchronous provider-to-provider pediatric dermatology eConsult program.

Retrospective cohort study of 900 consecutive outpatient pediatric dermatology eConsult referrals from PCPs at a tertiary academic center from 2017 to 2021.

Of 900 eConsult referrals, 621 (69%) were completed without the need for in-person dermatology follow-up. 46 (5%) were completed but required follow-up. 233 eConsult referrals (26%) were declined, primarily due to medical complexity. Thirty referrals (3%) were declined because of inadequate clinical photos. The PCP communicated eConsult recommendations to the patient/family on an average of 1.6 days (SD 3) after receiving the completed eConsult. eConsults for adolescents were less likely to be completed compared to infants (p = 0.03). Diagnostic and management concordance between PCP and dermatologist was 78% and 67%, respectively.

Provider-to-provider eConsultation provides rapid speciality guidance to PCPs managing low-complexity skin conditions in pediatric outpatients. The lower rate of management plan concordance compared to diagnostic concordance suggests that eConsultation improves outpatient skin management by PCPs.