eConsults
Specialist Input Without the Waitlist
eConsults offer asynchronous, provider-to-provider consultations, helping PCPs make informed clinical decisions while avoiding unnecessary referrals.
eConsults
- What is an eConsult?
An eConsult is a provider-to-provider consultation that allows a primary care or referring provider to get guidance from a specialist electronically, without requiring the patient to attend an in-person specialist appointment. The referring provider submits a clinical question along with relevant patient information through an electronic platform, and a specialist reviews it and responds with recommendations to help guide diagnosis, treatment, or next steps.
eConsults can be especially useful when a patient’s needs can be addressed through specialist input alone, without a traditional face-to-face visit.
- Why use eConsults?
eConsults can help healthcare organizations:- Expand access to specialty expertise without requiring an in-person visit
- Support timely clinical decision-making by getting specialist input when it’s needed
- Reduce unnecessary travel, wait times, and other barriers for patients
- Give primary care providers additional expertise to help manage patients directly
- Help prioritize referrals by clarifying which patients truly need an in-person specialist visit
- Strengthen care coordination through direct communication between referring providers and specialists
- Reduce unnecessary referrals when a clinical question can be resolved electronically
- Improve access to specialty care for rural and underserved communities
- Best Practices
Successful eConsult programs should:- Define which specialties and clinical questions are appropriate for eConsults
- Establish a simple, consistent process for submitting requests
- Provide specialists with sufficient clinical information, including relevant history, medications, labs, and imaging
- Set clear expectations for specialist response times
- Create a straightforward process for relaying recommendations back to the referring provider
- Define when a case should be converted to an in-person or virtual specialist visit
- Maintain clear documentation and referral workflows within the EHR
- Educate providers on when and how to use eConsults
- Monitor utilization, response times, referral conversion, and patient outcomes
Explore Programs & Resources
The South Carolina Telehealth Alliance includes participating organizations and programs that offer telehealth services across South Carolina. Explore available programs and resources to learn how these services are implemented.
MUSC: Learn how MUSC implements eConsults, including program highlights, a video, and additional resources. View the MUSC program
More partner programs coming soon.
