How Cardiology Consults Reduce Overuse of Emergency Departments

Many issues drive overuse of emergency departments (EDs) by low acuity patients. Diminished access to specialty care, long patient wait times for specialist visits and poor patient understanding of how to manage chronic conditions are a few examples. eConsults mitigate these disparities in care and access to specialists.

In many healthcare systems, hospital closures, practice consolidations, and a lack of access to specialty providers mean patients must travel far or wait a long time to receive care. This is true for conditions and complaints within a wide range of specialties in rural and urban communities. Without a specialist care plan in place, low acuity patients can end up in overtaxed emergency rooms for conditions that could’ve been managed by primary care doctors much closer to home.

Low-acuity patients can quickly access specialists within the primary care setting. eConsults enable primary care physicians to create and manage expedient care plans while reducing ER visits and improving care delivery.

eConsults help reduce overuse of emergency departments

eConsults help avoid ER visits and expensive specialty referrals because they allow the PCP to address issues before complications arise. Unlike informal curbside consultations, formal eConsult platforms, like AristaMD’s care coordination platform, streamline the physician referral process and improve patient outcomes.

The primary care team can ensure that follow-up care is properly managed by monitoring patient progress and coordinating care. This support helps prevent issues from escalating, reducing unnecessary ER visits. The ability to track patient goals and provide timely education further helps patients stay on top of their care and avoid complications that might otherwise require specialty intervention.