A Pediatric Infectious Diseases Asynchronous eConsult Program: An Evaluation of Content, Impact Assessment, and User...

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Asynchronous electronic consults (eConsults) offer a new method for pediatric infectious disease (PID) physicians to provide specialist advice.
• The study evaluated the initial five years of a PID eConsult program, focusing on its utility, acceptability, and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact and effectiveness of a pediatric infectious disease eConsult program.
• To determine the utility, user satisfaction, and long-term viability of asynchronous specialist consultations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 727 eConsults from March 2018 to October 2023.
• Analysis of consultation data, including patient/provider characteristics and recommendations.
• Surveys of referring providers to gauge satisfaction and experience.

Main Results:

• 64.8% of eConsults resulted in a suggested change to the patient's diagnostic or treatment plan.
• 98.3% of surveyed referring providers reported satisfaction with the eConsult service.
• Consistent growth in referring providers and practices over the five-year period indicates program sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Asynchronous eConsults provide a valuable platform for PID specialists to issue formal recommendations.
• The program demonstrated significant utility in altering patient care plans and educating providers.
• The PID eConsult program showed strong acceptance and sustainability among referring clinicians.