eConsult is a secure web-based tool that allows physicians and nurse practitioners timely access to specialist advice for all patients and often eliminates the need for an in-person specialist visit. The Ontario CLRI is collaborating with the Ontario eConsult Program team to support the integration of its services into long-term care homes across Ontario.
The Ontario eConsult Program is led by the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence (eConsult COE), housed at The Ottawa Hospital in partnership with the Bruyère Research Institute. Delivery partners are the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), OntarioMD, and eHealth Ontario, with the support of the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care.
Background
Limited access to specialist care remains a major barrier to health care in Canada. High levels of frustration exist about poor access and long wait lists.
Residents may wait months to see specialists as they face frustration and sometimes worsening conditions, only to learn that all they needed was a simple fix. The risks of delays only increase as a person ages and as they become frailer.
The Ontario eConsult Program provides regional and provincial eConsult services incorporating both the BASE™ managed specialty and direct-to-specialist models through the Ontario eConsult Service (accessed on the OTNhub) and Champlain BASE™ eConsult Service (primarily used in Champlain and Mississauga-Halton regions). Many physicians and nurse practitioners across the province are already registered on one or both of these services and can access a wide range of specialties to receive timely advice/guidance from appropriate specialists
Key Resources:
· Primary Care Provider Fact Sheet
· LTC Frequently Asked Questions Sheet
· Sample eConsult Cases from LTC
· Cost Savings and Usage Estimator and Guide
Find the above resources at econsultontario.ca
NEW:
COVID-19 Specialty Group Available on eConsult
Through the Ontario eConsult Service, physicians and nurse practitioners have access to over 90 BASE™ managed specialty groups and a directory of individual specialists. As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, OTN and the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence have created a COVID-19 BASE™ managed specialty group. This group enables physicians and nurse practitioners to ask clinical questions to infectious disease specialist electronically and receive a response within days. This is the only group that allows for population-based, non-patient specific clinical questions.
The COVID-19 BASE™ Managed Specialty Group is now available province-wide. It is:
· Accessed through the BASE™ managed specialty option and listed under Infectious Disease and Public Health
· A group of Infectious Disease specialists who can answer both patient-specific and general questions about COVID-19
· For non-patient specific questions please enter the patient information as follows:
· First Name: COVID19
· Last Name: COVID19
· Date of Birth: 1900-01-01
· Select OHIP number not available
Please note: Patient screening for COVID-19 must still be done through Public Health Services.
If you need a refresher on how to submit an eConsult, you can watch our training video here: https://youtu.be/-zgIxVrLiYQ.
To sign up for eConsult or for more information about the service, please contact the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence at eConsultCOE@toh.ca or go to www.eConsultOntario.ca. For LTC-specific resources, please visit eConsultOntario.ca/resources.
Resources
Ontario eConsult Program Website
LTC providers can learn more about the history and process of eConsult, as well as register to use the service.
Webinar – Expanding the Champlain BASE™ eConsult Service into LTC
Watch a recording of this webinar to learn more about the Champlain BASE™ eConsult service and how it is implemented in LTC in Ontario.
Read an article written by the Ontario CLRI about the Champlain BASE™ eConsult service.
More information about the Program and LTC-specific resources can be found at www.eConsultOntario.ca. Assistance for existing and new users can be obtained from the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence at eConsultCOE@toh.ca [for the Champlain BASE™ eConsult Service, you may also contact eConsultSupport@lhinworks.on.ca].
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