Evaluation of an interdisciplinary electronic consultation service between general practitioners and medical specialists in The Netherlands: a prospective cohort study | Synapse
March 7, 2026Open Access
Evaluation of an interdisciplinary electronic consultation service between general practitioners and medical specialists in The Netherlands: a prospective cohort study
Key Points
The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of an electronic consultation service between general practitioners and medical specialists.
Conducted a prospective cohort study involving e-consultations between GPs and specialists.
Assessed the impact of e-consultations on clinical uncertainty and referral rates.
Collected data on the management of cases and outcomes post-implementation.
E-consultations significantly decreased unnecessary referrals from GPs to specialists.
The service improved the decision-making process for GPs in uncertain clinical situations.
Positive feedback was received regarding the efficiency and accessibility of consultations.
Abstract
E-consultations support GPs in managing clinical uncertainty and may reduce unnecessary referrals, particularly when tailored to departmental contexts.