eConsult

An integrated referral and consultation program designed to streamline and enhance the primary care – specialty care interface in San Francisco’s safety net.

 

Overview

eConsult is a web-based referral and consultation program developed by UCSF and ZSFG for San Francisco’s safety net system. Clinics and services that use eConsult require electronic submission of all referral requests that are reviewed by a specialist clinician, who can communicate with the referring provider in an iterative fashion until the clinical issues have been resolved, with or without an appointment. Evaluation of the system demonstrates that eConsult has improved the timeliness of specialty care, specialist assessment of the appropriateness and completeness of referrals, and primary care providers’ ability to track referrals and receive pre-visit guidance. Moreover, eConsult is a tool to engage many of the key stakeholders across San Francisco’s health care safety net to collaborate on improving specialty care.

eConsult has been recognized nationally and internationally as an innovative model for improving specialty care and has received multiple awards and more than $2 million in grant funding. We have served as advisors, consultants, or collaborators with numerous safety net systems including Los Angeles, Denver, Orange, Alameda, San Diego, and San Mateo counties. Health systems in Alabama, Colorado, Wisconsin, Georgia, Minnesota, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Connecticut, Chicago, New Orleans, India, and the United Kingdom have expressed interest in adopting aspects of eConsult.

 

Guides and Documents

  1. eConsult Implementation Handbook (written for the old system but still has useful concepts)
  2. eConsult training video for Referring Providers
  3. eConsult training video for Specialist Reviewers
  4. eConsult training video for Carelink Providers (coming soon)
  5. eConsult Tip Sheet for Ambulatory Care
  6. eConsult Tip Sheet for Specialist Reviewers
  7. eConsult Tip Sheet for Hyperspace
  8. eConsult Tip Sheet for CareLink

 

People

eConsult Program Director: Delphine Tuot, MDCM, MAS

eConsult Specialty Lead: Elizabeth Murphy, MD, DPhil Profile

eConsult Program Manager: Amanda Churape

Specialty Care Data Analyst: Jessica Carreto Portillo

 

ZSFG eConsult Reviewers