eConsult COVID-19 Library

eConsults are electronic consultations typically between a primary care provider (PCP) and a specialist. eConsults are designed for use in place of a referral or a curbside and in lieu of an in-person evaluation by the specialist.

For referral questions that are primarily assessed using clinical data, an eConsult has several potential advantages over a standard referral. In appropriate cases, the patient receives timely access to specialist expertise, avoids the costs associated with an office visit (e.g., travel to the health center, an insurance co-pay, a missed half-day of work, etc.), and maintains relationship continuity with the PCP. The PCP has dynamic access to specialist expertise and maintains management responsibility. By addressing lower complexity questions via eConsult, the specialist can make optimal use of office visit appointments for patients who require in-person evaluation. eConsults have the potential to address all three aspects of the Triple Aim: better health, better patient experience, and lower costs.

As part of a supplemental grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the AAMC gathered real examples of eConsult exchanges between primary care providers and specialists, organized by topic of COVID-19 care. These eConsults demonstrate the application of eConsults to help support the care of patients related to COVID-19. These cases were edited for clarity, brevity, and patient and family privacy.

eConsult exchanges are categorized in the following topics: COVID-19 vaccine-related and Post-Acute COVID-19 care. These real-life examples have some limitations. Given the evolving recommendations and guidance on COVID-19 care, these cases should not be considered complete or definitive and may not reflect the most up-to-date guidance. A special thank you to the University of Utah, Indiana University, University of Virginia, University of Washington, Yale University, Oregon Health & Science University, and ConferMED for providing these examples of eConsults.