Improving Access to Endocrinologists through Provider-to-Provider eConsultations

Authors

  • Erin Keely, MD, FRCPC The Ottawa Hospital; University of Ottawa
  • Clare Liddy, MD, MSc, CCFP The Ottawa Hospital; University of Ottawa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cdet.2023.1214

Abstract

Access to specialty healthcare care remains a major issue for many Canadians. Not only are wait times long, but other barriers contribute to inequitable access. These include the patient’s ability to attend appointments (e.g. related to transportation difficulties and/or cost), and the ability of some patients to participate in an appointment (e.g. due to cognitive impairment, mobility challenges, loss of wages, or degree of comfort with a new provider).

Informal consultations between healthcare providers have always played a role in healthcare access. The “call a colleague” approach works well when a practitioner is able to contact a colleague by telephone and an established network of specialists exists; however, it is inefficient, does not facilitate record-keeping for medico-legal purposes and follow-up, and is not remunerated. One way to help address these obstacles is through inter-provider electronic consultations (eConsults).

Author Biographies

Erin Keely, MD, FRCPC, The Ottawa Hospital; University of Ottawa

Dr. Erin Keely is an Endocrinologist at the Ottawa Hospital and a Full Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Department of Medicine. She is the co-founder of the Champlain BASE eConsult service and Co-Executive Director (specialist lead) of the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence.

Clare Liddy, MD, MSc, CCFP, The Ottawa Hospital; University of Ottawa

Dr. Clare Liddy is the Chair and a Full Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Department of Family Medicine with a University of Ottawa Research Chair in eConsult and Primary Health Care Delivery. She is the co-founder of the Champlain BASE eConsult service and Co-Executive Director (primary care lead) of the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence.

References

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Published

2023-06-19

How to Cite

Keely, E., & Liddy, C. (2023). Improving Access to Endocrinologists through Provider-to-Provider eConsultations. Canadian Diabetes & Endocrinology Today, 1(2), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.58931/cdet.2023.1214

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Articles