Direct Message/E-Consult Ordering - Connecting you with Specialists
Direct Message/E-Consult Ordering is an electronic system that enables community providers to ask non-urgent clinical questions with a response in 3 business days or less. This option was created to complement the 2 minute-turnaround when calling Physician Priority Link. Either system can be used as your needs dictate. We hope you find the addition of a non-urgent option useful.
A community provider shared his experience (below) using the system for a non-urgent issue:
“I recently saw a HS athlete for sports clearance after COVID. He needed an ECG to return to play, and it came back abnormal. It was towards the end of the week and I knew he had a match on Saturday for which he was hoping to participate. I didn’t think the issue was pressing enough to call a cardiologist via Priority Link but waiting for a cardiology appointment wasn’t an appealing option. So, I logged onto Epic Link. Once I found the patient, I looked in the orders section and typed in ‘econsult’. Cardiology popped up as one of the divisions available, so I clicked on it and typed in a message describing the situation. It linked the patients' information so the receiving cardiologist would be able to see the ECG. Later in the day (actually within the hour) I received a text notification that I had an In-Basket message. I logged back into Epic Link and was able to read Jeff Anderson's advice that the patient was fine to participate in his game Saturday, and he did not need any further cardiology follow up. I was thrilled to notify the family that their son was all clear!” ~ Pierre Manfroy, MD
There are 26 divisions that participate in the Direct Message/E-Consult service which was officially launched in Feb 2021. It is available providers who use Epic and non-Epic EMRs. Within Epic’s EMR, the system is called a Direct Message. For those using a non-Epic EMR, Epic Link can be used to place an E-Consult order.
If you have questions about this system, setting up text notifications, or about Epic Link. Please contact your Physician Liaison (listed in the email of this e-newsletter).