A pooled electronic consultation program to improve access to genetics specialists

• Published in: Genetics in Medicine Open Vol. 1; no. 1; p. 100819
• Main Authors: Folkerts, Emma K., Pelletier, Renée C., Chung, Daniel C., Goldstein, Susan A., Micalizzi, Douglas S., Shannon, Kristen M., Sweetser, David A., Wong, Eugene K., Rehm, Heidi L., Hull, Leland E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Access to health services; Genetic services; Healthcare delivery; Referral and consultation; Healthcare delivery; Genetic services; Referral and consultation; Access to health services
• ISSN: 2949-7744; 2949-7744
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gimo.2023.100819

Given limited ambulatory access to genetics specialists, innovative service delivery solutions are needed. Electronic consultation (e-consult) programs are growing to connect clinicians to specialists. We explored the utilization and outcomes of a genetics and genomics e-consult program at Massachusetts General Hospital system in its first year. A retrospective observational analysis of genetics e-consults ordered between April 2021 and March 2022. In its first year, the e-consult service triaged 153 requests and completed 122 in a median of 2.0 days. Of the 97 e-consults with actionable recommendations, there was documentation that most ordering clinicians followed through (82%). A variety of providers used the service, though the majority (77%) were generalists. e-Consult models should be considered as one way to increase access to genetics expertise.