Partners Online Speciality Consultations
Summary:
Partners Online Specialty Consultations (POSC) is a web-based application that enables consumers and their physicians to have “anytime, anywhere” access to the knowledge base of the 4000+ specialists located at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Partners/Dana Farber Cancer Care. To learn more, visit econsults.partners.org.
Patient Benefits:
When faced with an unusual or life-changing diagnosis, getting an expert second opinion from some of the best specialists in the world gives patients options, answers, and often, peace of mind. Patients have access to the highest quality care without having to travel or waiting weeks to get an appointment with a specialist. Patients receive an opinion on their diagnosis or treatment plan which they can then discuss with their local physician.
Physician Benefits:
Partners Online Specialty Consultations service works as a physician-to-physician consultation. Patients and their local physicians both register for the service and the delivered opinion is sent to the referring physician. This gives local physicians access to highly specialized resources to help them manage their patient’s care plan.
Employer Benefits:
Several innovative employers have offered POSC as an employee benefit. A recent WSJ study showed that employees would prefer improved health care benefits over a salary increase. POSC allows employers to give their employees access to the highest quality care regardless of location.
Program Overview:
Both patient and the referring physician register for the service. They provide medical history and can upload files, scan documents and images, or fax or mail pertinent materials. The assembled case is organized and formatted by the Remote Consultation Coordinators, who assign the most qualified specialist to the case. The consulting specialist receives all of the information and delivers a professional opinion within 7 days.
Consultations typically cost $225 for a radiology or pathology interpretation or $450 for a specialist consultation.
In our experience, we found that the diagnosis changed in 5% of cases, and that 90% of opinions recommended a change in the treatment plan.
Kathy Fiamma, Senior Remote Consultation Coordinator (left photo); Jay Loeffler, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital (middle photo); Alison Friedmann, MD, MGH Specialist in Pediatric Oncology (right photo)