Usefulness of e-consultation in cardiology

• Published in: Semergen, medicina de familia Vol. 50; no. 6; p. 102195
• Main Authors: Molano Casimiro, F J, González Correa, M, Romero Reyes, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Telemedicina; Atención Primaria de Salud; Telemedicine; E-consultations; E-consulta; Telecardiología; Enfermedades cardiovasculares; Cardiología; Cardiovascular disease; Primary Health Care; Cardiology; Telecardiology
• ISSN: 1578-8865; 1578-8865
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semerg.2024.102195

The development of IT tools and interlevel relationships in the management of the most prevalent processes has led to a semi-presential assessment approach. In cardiology, this form of assessment is possible through a close collaboration with primary care. The aim of this study is to analyze the results of our e-consultation program and to establish the effectiveness of this new form of assistance. Single-center study that included e-consultations referred from 15 September 2021 to 30 September 2022. Subsequently, we analyzed the events in which patients were discharged directly during the e-consultation with no need for an on-site visit. We included 3,155 e-consultations. The mean age of the patients was 57±17.6 years. Of the consultations, 75% were answered within 48h (62% within 24h). A total of 1,988 patients completed one year of follow-up in e-consultation. Out of these, 1,278 patients (64.2%) were discharged from the e-consultation with no need for an on-site visit: 685 patients (53.5%) during the first consultation, and 593 (46.5%) upon request of a complementary test. After one year of follow-up, 13 patients (0.006%) were admitted due to cardiological pathology, and 16 patients (0.008%) died, only one due to cardiovascular causes. The mean age of the deceased was 80.5 years. E-consultation as a single referral system from primary care to cardiology improves patient accessibility, speeds up patient assessment and is effective for patients discharged without the need for an on-site consultation.