Expanding the scope of an eConsult service: acceptability and feasibility of an optometry-ophthalmology pilot project

Abstract

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of connecting optometrists to ophthalmologists on an eConsult service.

Design: Descriptive analysis of utilization data and an anonymous survey.

Participants: All eConsult cases sent by optometrists between March 2019 and February 2020 (utilization data); optometrists and ophthalmologists participating in the eConsult Vision Pilot Project (survey).

Methods: Utilization data for the study period were collected automatically and underwent descriptive analysis. Participating optometrists and ophthalmologists received an email invitation to a survey assessing the project.

Results: Thirteen optometrists from 5 clinics in the southeast region and 7 ophthalmologists were recruited to participate in the pilot project. Optometrists sent 109 eConsults in a 13-month period, representing 33% of all cases submitted to ophthalmology through the eConsult service provincially (March 2019-March 2020). Sixty-eight percent of respondents to an anonymous online survey valued the recruitment and engagement of eye care professionals from the same health region. The influence of the eConsult service was reported to have a "somewhat positive" (27%) to "very positive" (50%) influence on the relationship between the two professional groups.

Conclusion: The eConsult Vision Pilot Project fills a gap in service and provides an opportunity for patients to get access to specialty advice. We demonstrated that allowing optometrists to solicit specialist advice from ophthalmologists was acceptable and feasible.