Evaluation of an Electronic Consultation Service for COVID-19 Care

Jatinderpreet Singh; Gary E. Garber; Erin Keely; Sheena Guglani; Clare Liddy

doi:10.1370/afm.2807

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RE: Evaluation of An Electronic Consultation Service for COVID-19 Care
Jim LaPlante

Published on: 07 December 2022
RE: Evaluation of an Electronic Consultation Service forCOVID-19 Care
Deanne Houghton

Published on: 30 June 2022

Published on: (7 December 2022)
Page navigation anchor for RE: Evaluation of An Electronic Consultation Service for COVID-19 Care
RE: Evaluation of An Electronic Consultation Service for COVID-19 Care
Jim LaPlante, Retired, Volunteer Care Partner
I read with interest the results of this research on the use of ConsultBASETM Service as an effective virtual care solution for the timely exchange of information between primary care practitioners and infectious disease specialists. Positive results from the use of eConsult have been demonstrated consistently through evidence-based research over the last several years. Current discussions about the fight against emerging infectious diseases and associated morbidities have focused on issues of prevention, containment, health service availability, morbidities to care and the development of new, innovative therapeutics (The Lancet Commission, September 22, 2022). As well, the success of quality healthcare delivery systems will depend on effective ’wait-list management’. The President of the Canadian Medical Association, Globe and Mail, September 12, 2022, sees the maximization of healthcare delivery through integrated, coordinated and collaborative initiatives. eConsults provide a timely, responsive ‘knowledge and data-exchange platform’ that can respond, in an effective way, to demands for diagnostic data on the advancement of new COVID-19 and long-COVID-19 cases.

I enjoyed reading the Abstract.

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (30 June 2022)
Page navigation anchor for RE: Evaluation of an Electronic Consultation Service forCOVID-19 Care
RE: Evaluation of an Electronic Consultation Service forCOVID-19 Care
Deanne Houghton, Retired, Patient Partner, University of Toronto Medical Alumni
This article exemplifies solution-based research that is capable of responding to the urgent delivery of healthcare needs during difficult and stressful times such as the SARS-CoV-2 viral pandemic.
eConsult is definitely a digital health innovation that is capable of improving access to specialists’ advice faster and more efficiently than traditional in person visits with long wait times. eConsult clearly lends itself to increased patient quality of care and satisfaction. Hopefully this quick uptake of eConsults during the pandemic helps pave the way for greater widespread implementation of the service as the level of information technology adoption expands in Ontario, nationally and internationally.
I am surprised, though, that treatment of the acute phase of the disease was not one of the five major themes identified given the controversial nature of an early course of action.
A big thank you to Dr. Jatinderpreet Singh et al for this excellent study.

Competing Interests: None declared.