BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS FOR ECONSULT: IMPROVING ACCESS TO SPECIALIST ADVICE IN LONG-TERM CARE. (20th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fung, Celeste
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 6(2022)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2022-12-20
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac059.256
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Long-term care (LTC) residents continue to receive most of their specialist care outside of the home. These visits present significant risks and burdens for residents. Such risks can be mitigated by eConsult, which facilitates timely, resident-specific, and practical recommendations between primary care providers (PCPs) and specialists to support clinical decision making, reduce unnecessary transfers, and positively impact resident care and quality of life. During focus groups in LTC homes where eConsult is used, PCPs, senior leadership, and a nurse champion recognized eConsult as having great value for residents, especially those with challenges travelling outside of the home. However, they also described LTC homes as under resourced, with minimal IT infrastructure and coupled with time constraints present barriers to eConsult adoption in LTC. Enabling factors (engaging clinician champions, establishing delegates, integration into existing workflows) similarly identified as supporting eConsult implementation more broadly were discussed.