Technology Enhancing Patient Care

Across the United States, individuals and groups are using new technology to improve consultations and referrals. These initiatives are generally referred to as eConsultation and eReferral services.

While the services can be diverse in the technology used and the features offered, they share a common goal: to streamline consultations and referrals, giving patients and primary care physicians more effective and efficient access to specialist care.

eConsultation services generally allow primary care physicians to request a referral to a specialist electronically, rather than by fax or mail.¹ eConsultation services can involve migrating relevant patient information already contained in the physician’s electronic medical record systems into an electronic referral form that is sent to the specialist and also saved in the patient’s electronic record.