eConsult
The Ontario eConsult Program
The Ontario eConsult Program connects requesting providers to specialists, providing the opportunity to inform clinical decision making without sending the patient to see the specialist in person. Through a private and secure web portal, requesting providers can ask a specialist a clinical question about their patient and receive advice quickly and securely.
Two options to access specialist advice
Building on over a decade of experience with proven clinical services, the Ontario eConsult Program offers choice and flexibility with the following established services:
This service enables requesting providers to send requests to a group of consultants in a given specialty or sub-specialty area. Requests are triaged to the closest regional managed specialty or a provincial managed specialty if a local one is unavailable.
This service enables requesting providers to send requests directly to a specific provider or group.
Accessed primarily through the secure OTNhub, the program is led by the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence (eConsult COE), housed at The Ottawa Hospital in partnership with the Bruyère Research Institute. Regional partners include Champlain BASE™ (Building Access to Specialists through eConsultation) and the South East Academic Medical Organization (SEAMO). Delivery partners are the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), OntarioMD, and eHealth Ontario, with the support of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Building on the success each of the services offered during the pilots, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care determined that eConsult would become a provincial program.
To access the Ontario eConsult Program, sign up for an OTNhub account.
For questions about the Ontario eConsult Program, please contact: eConsultCOE@toh.ca
About eConsult
eConsult specialties include:
Allergy & Clinical Immunology Group
Anesthesiology Group
Breast Oncology Group
Cardiology Group
Concussion Group
Dermatology Group
Endocrinology Group
ENT Group
Epilepsy Neurology Group
Gastroenterology Group
General Pediatrics Group
General Surgery Group
Geriatric Psychiatry Group
Geriatrics Group
Gynecologic Oncology Group
Gynecology Group
Head & Neck Surgery Group
Hepatology Group
HIV Group
Infectious Disease Group
Internal Medicine Group
Medical Oncology Group
Neonatal/Perinatal Pediatrics Group
Nephrology Group
Neurology Group
Neurosurgery Group
Obstetrics Group
Ophthalmology Group
Opioid Group
Orthopaedic Surgery Group
Orthopaedics Group
Pain Medicine Group
Pediatric Cardiology Group
Pediatric Gastroenterology Group
Pediatric Nephrology Group
Pediatric Neurology Group
Pediatric Psychiatry Group
Pediatric Rheumatology Group
Perinatal Psychiatry Group
Phys Med/Rehab Group
Plastic Surgery Group
Psychiatric Sleep Medicine Group
Psychiatry Group
Radiation Oncology Group
Respirology Group
Respirology Sleep Medicine Group
Rheumatology Group
Spinal Surgery Group
Thoracic Surgery Group
Urogynecology Group
Urology Group
Vascular Surgery Group
Benefits of eConsult:
- Timely access to specialists
- Reduction of unnecessary in-person specialist referrals
- Patient-centred care
- Improved clinical decision making
- Collaboration between clinicians
- Secure communication between providers
- Flexible options for seeking specialist advice
- Efficiency in effectively managing patient care
- Simple sign-up process
Services which are part of the Ontario eConsult Program are available at no cost to the patient and the provider. Where applicable, family physicians can bill OHIP for the consult request using the K738 fee code (Ontario Schedule of Benefits). Specialists are remunerated through an arrangement with the Ontario eConsult Centre of Excellence.
eConsult for Ontario Physicians
eConsult connects referring physicians and nurse practitioners to specialists, providing the opportunity to inform clinical decision making without sending the patient to see the specialist in person. Video courtesy of OntarioMD.
“I use eConsult not only as a way to help my colleagues manage their patients, but also as an opportunity to provide education by sending relevant, complementary images or articles, for instance. This is a unique benefit to eConsult that cannot be achieved with any other medium. A strong online community of physicians, eager to teach and learn, is an ideal way to grow our collective pool of knowledge which can only result in the provision of better care for our patients.”
Dr. Evan LewisRelated Clinical Programs
As part of its suite of services offered through the OTNhub, OTN also offers three additional programs that offer specialist support:
Teledermatology
Many clinicians use OTN’s Teledermatology program to access dermatology consults in less than 5 days. The Teledermatology program is available to requesting providers at no cost.
Teleophthalmology
Timely, accessible retinal screening for patients with diabetes done in the community rather than via an in-person specialist visit, so eye disease is more likely to be discovered, and treated, prior to irreversible vision loss. The Teleophthalmology program is available to requesting providers at no cost.
Telepsychiatry
OTN enables access to care for more than 100,000 mental health and addiction patients annually. Telemedicine provides a welcome relief by providing timely access to care without the need for extensive travel.
Northern Health Travel Grant
When Northern Ontario patients need to travel for specialized medical care, it can represent a significant personal and economic burden. See how telemedicine can make a difference.
eVisit
Arrange real-time video visits with patients and peers. And choose the method that’s best for you: PC/Mac, mobile or Room-based.
3 ways to eVisit
On your PC or Mac
OTNconnect App on your iOS or Android device
Room-based systems in health organizations
Mount Sinai Perinatal Program
New mothers may experience psychiatric disorders that make it difficult to get to healthcare appointments while managing their pregnancy or keeping up with the demands of a newborn baby. See how Mount Sinai is leveraging virtual care to address this gap, provide greater access to care, and improve patient outcomes.
Clinical Programs
Telestroke
Telestroke is a 24/7 emergency telemedicine application that provides emergency physicians with immediate access to neurologists with expertise in stroke care who can support both the assessment and treatment of patients experiencing acute stroke.
Emergency (Teleburn, Virtual Critical Care, Teletrauma)
Telemedicine can be an effective way to bring specialized emergency care and timely treatment to patients in need. In addition to equalizing health care for Ontarians facing urgent or emergent health issues, telemedicine can provide an important communications channel during a pandemic or natural disaster, reduce costs, help to ensure the sustainability of the healthcare system, and reduce the environmental impact of health care.
Integrating eVisit in clinical care
Today, healthcare professionals across Ontario are using telemedicine across many therapeutic areas of care. They can connect quickly with their patients, and when necessary, with specialists, to deliver high quality care while improving the patient experience.
Read how healthcare professionals have made telemedicine mainstream and incorporated it into their practice for psychiatry, oncology, general surgery and cardiology.
eCare
Use apps and other devices to monitor patients or coach them to manage their condition at home – ideal for patients with chronic conditions, or mobility issues.
OTN is at the forefront of telemedicine innovation, keeping care closer to home. We continue to introduce new apps to better serve patients and providers in the delivery of care.
Clinical Programs
Telehomecare
Telehomecare supports patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure (CHF), plus diabetes as a comorbidity, through health coaching and remote monitoring. Telehomecare is free to patients.
BENEFITS
- Patients are able to live their best possible life. Telehomecare complements the care provided by their primary care provider.
- The patient’s doctor is provided with regular reports on the patient’s status and early warning of potential worsening of the condition.
- This service reduces unnecessary visits to the emergency department and hospital admissions.
HOW IT WORKS
Telehomecare supports patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure (CHF), plus diabetes as a comorbidity, through health coaching and remote monitoring. Telehomecare is free to patients.
- A primary care provider refers a patient to the CCAC, FHT or hospital delivering Telehomecare in the region.
- A technician installs home monitoring equipment.
- Patients use home-based technology to measure blood pressure, oxygen, weight, and to answer simple questions about how they are feeling.
- Specially-trained registered nurses or certified respiratory therapists monitor daily vital signs and provide weekly health coaching by telephone.
Clinicians who want to learn more about Telehomecare can visit RxTelehomecare.ca. Learn more about the program and check availability in your community.
Otto and his wife Ulla discuss how Telehomecare has helped Otto effectively manage his heart failure at home.