Telehealth: A pathway to higher resolution rates in primary care?

This quantitative, analytical-descriptive, cross-sectional study examined retrospective data from teleconsultations and teleinterconsultations conducted between November 2022 and September 2023 to assess the efficacy of care received by primary care users by these means. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical indicators, such as absolute frequency, percentages, and proportions, to identify patterns and trends in a total of 2,355 teleconsultations and teleinterconsultations. Of these, highest demand was for endocrinology (25.3%), psychiatry (21.7%) and cardiology (16.3%). No referral to face-to-face assessment in specialised care services was required following 96.5% of the tele-consultations or teleinterconsultations. In all, 71.2% of tele-consultations and 76.4% of teleinterconsultations resulted in counter-referrals to primary care services to schedule continued care. The study identified the main demands for referrals between primary care and specialised outpatient services and found more effective primary care and strengthening of the attributes of the teams.