Evaluating Advanced Practice Nurses' Knowledge and Use of Electronic Consultations

摘要

Timely access and appropriate referrals to a specialist are shared problems among primary care providers. Historically, consultations with a specialist have required long waits for patients; often, these referrals result in unnecessary and costly appointments. Recently, primary care providers have begun to use electronic consultation (e-consult) for provider-to-provider consultation. Medicare released Current Procedural Terminology codes in February of 2019 that allow for billing of this type of visit. Little information regarding e-consult was found in the nurse practitioner literature. This pilot study evaluated e-consult knowledge and the use of advanced practice nurses in a state that has robust telehealth policies and reimbursement. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.