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Vol. 224. Issue 7.
Pages 421-427 (August - September 2024)
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Vol. 224. Issue 7.
Pages 421-427 (August - September 2024)
Original article
E-consults between primary care and internal medicine: implementation, accessibility, benefits, and implications
E-consulta entre atención primaria y medicina interna: implementación, accesibilidad, beneficios e implicaciones
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F.J. Suárez-Donoa, C. Martínez-Reya, J. Novo-Platasb, C. Fernández Peñaa, M.L. Rodríguez Méndeza, A. Pérez Iglesiasa, E. Casariego-Valesa,
Corresponding author
a Servicio de Medicina Interna, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Av Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, Spain
b Control de Gestión, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Av Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, Spain
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Tables (3)
Table 1. General characteristics of patients for whom an internal medicine e-consult was requested via primary care.
Table 2. Internal medicine response time, in days.
Table 3. Main characteristics of patients that were or were not given an in-person appointment by internal medicine following an e-consult requested via primary care.
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Abstract
Aim

This work aims to evaluate whether electronic consultations (e-consults) are a clinically useful, safe tool for assessing patients between primary care and internal medicine.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of all e-consults ordered by the Primary Care Department to the Internal Medicine Department between September 2019 and December 2023. The results of initial consultations, emergency department visits and subsequent admissions, and survival were assessed and complaints and claims filed were reviewed.

Results

A total of 11,434 e-consults were recorded (55.4% women) with a mean age of 62.1 (SD19.4) years and a wide range (15–102 years). The mean response time was 2.55 (SD 1.6) days. As a result of the e-consults, 5645 patients (49.4%) were given an in-person appointment. For the remaining 5789 (50.6%), a written response was provided. Among those given appointments, the time between the response and in-person appointment was less than five days (95% of cases). Compared to those not given appointments, in-person appointments were older (p < 0.0001), visited the emergency department more times (one month: p = 0.04; three months: p = 0.001), were admitted to the hospital more times (one month: p = 0.0001; three months: p = 0.0001), and had higher mortality at one year (12.7% vs. 9.8% p = 0.0001). In the Cox analysis, only in-person appointments (RR = 1.11; p = 0.04)) and age (RR = 1.09; p < 0.01) were independent factors of mortality. No complaints or claims of any kind were registered.

Conclusions

These data suggest that e-consults are a clinically useful, safe tool for assessing patients referred from primary care to internal medicine departments.

Keywords:
Electronic consultation
Case management
Primary care
Internal medicine
Resumen
Objective

Evaluar si la consulta electrónica (e-consulta) es una herramienta clínicamente útil y segura en la valoración de pacientes entre Atención Primaria y Medicina Interna.

Methods

Estudio retrospectivo de cohortes de la totalidad de e-consultas remitidas desde Atención Primaria a un Servicio de Medicina Interna entre septiembre de 2019 y diciembre de 2023. Se evaluaron los resultados de las primeras consultas, las visitas a Urgencias e ingresos posteriores, la supervivencia y se revisaron las quejas y reclamaciones presentadas.

Results

Se registraron 11.434 e-consultas (55,4% mujeres) con edad media 62,1 (DE 19,4) años y gran dispersión (15 a 102 años). El tiempo medio de respuesta fue de 2,55 (DS 1,6) días y, como consecuencia, se citaron presencialmente 5645 pacientes (49,4%). En los 5789 (50,6%) restantes se ofreció una respuesta escrita. Entre los citados, el tiempo hasta la valoración presencial fue inferior a 5 días (95% de los casos). Con respecto a los no citados, los citados eran de mayor edad (p < 0.0001), acudieron más veces a urgencias (al mes p = 0.04- ; 3 meses p = 0,001-), ingresaron más veces (al mes p < 0.0001; 3 meses p < 0.0001) y mostraron mayor mortalidad al año (12,7% vs. 9.8%; p < 0,0001). En el análisis de Cox solo la citación presencial (RR = 1,11; p = 0,04)) y la edad (RR = 1,09; p < 0,01) fueron factores independientes de mortalidad. No se registraron quejas o reclamaciones de ningún tipo.

Conclusions

Nuestros datos sugieren que la e-consulta es una herramienta clínicamente útil y segura en la valoración de pacientes remitidos desde Atención Primaria a Medicina Interna.

Palabras clave:
Consulta electronica
Gestión caso
Primary care
Medicina interna

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