Expanding Access to Psychiatric Care: Implementation of Psychiatric e-Consultation and Tele-consultation for Primary Care in a Safety-net Health System

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2022;33(2):767-778. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0062.

Abstract

Technology can expand access to specialty health services for disadvantaged and underserved populations. A novel psychiatric consultation service involving both electronic consultations (e-consultations) and telephonic consultations (tele-consultations) was implemented by hospital-based staff and trainee psychiatrists in 12 primary care sites within a public safety-net health system. Utilization data were collected over a three-year period. A brief provider satisfaction survey was distributed to primary care providers. Over the three-year study period, 490 technology-enabled consultations were provided, of which three-fifths were e-consultations and two-fifths were tele-consultations. Most addressed medication questions (81%). Average time spent by the consulting psychiatrist was 30 minutes. Four-fifths (80%) of primary care providers reported being extremely or moderately satisfied with the service. The model represents multimodal support for primary care providers in providing community-level mental health care, including the provision of same-day consultation. This report demonstrates the feasibility of such a service in lowresource settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Medically Underserved Area
  • Primary Health Care
  • Psychiatry*
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Remote Consultation*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires