MARCH 21, 2023 – ​Getting patients to see a healthcare specialist can take weeks, months, or in some cases up to a year—assuming they can find one nearby who accepts their health insurance. And even when those appointments happen, sometimes primary care doctors learn that they could have treated the conditions all along.

To avoid that, some health systems, insurers, and practices have adopted electronic consulting (eConsult) and referral management platforms to connect primary care doctors with a wider network of specialists. Together, the primary doctor and the specialist can determine whether a patient needs specialty care and—if needed—find nearby, in-network providers.