Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · May 2022
Evaluation of an Electronic Consultation Service for COVID-19 Care.
COVID-19 has increased the need for innovative virtual care solutions. Electronic consultation (eConsult) services allow primary care practitioners to pose clinical questions to specialists using a secure remote application. We examined eConsult cases submitted to a COVID-19 specialist group in order to assess usage patterns, impact on response times and referrals, and the content of clinical questions being asked. ⋯ This study demonstrates the considerable potential of eConsults during a pandemic as our service was quickly implemented across Ontario and resulted in primary care practitioners' rapid and low-barrier access to specialist input.
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When I was a new social worker, a series of events changed my clinical practice. I believed academic pursuits and scholarly work were the key components to cultivating my clinical skills. My education had elucidated the importance of taking the time to listen to the patient's narrative to optimize their care. ⋯ I began my quest to find a mentor and discovered him in a most surprising place. I learned the best strategies to help people were not always found in books or taught in school. Some of the greatest gifts come from unexpected places.