Mayo Clinic eConsults

Electronic consultation offers convenient second opinion

A second opinion from a specialist at Mayo Clinic is available with no additional appointments or added cost for the patient through an electronic consultation called an eConsult. 

St. Elizabeth can offer its patients eConsults because it is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network – a collaboration that connects physicians to benefit patients. St. Elizabeth was the first healthcare facility in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana to pass the Mayo Clinic’s rigorous review process to earn membership in a network of experts dedicated to improving the delivery of care, which now includes more than 40 healthcare systems across the country.

“A second opinion can make people feel more comfortable with their diagnosis,” said Dr. Lawrence Brennan, Oncologist and Hematologist with St. Elizabeth. “It usually just reinforces the first opinion, but it’s a good way to satisfy yourself and your patient that you’ve done all you can.”

An eConsult does not require face-to-face communication so no additional appointments are needed. The process is convenient, cost-effective and fast:

• Information is sent electronically through secure methods, like an online portal or electronic medical record, from St. Elizabeth to Mayo Clinic. 
• Medical records, lab and test results, imaging and any other needed documents remain confidential throughout the entire process. 
• Specialists at Mayo Clinic review the physician’s notes and pertinent medical records and share their opinion on the most effective course of action.

For patients, it’s a way to continue to receive their care locally from the St. Elizabeth team. For physicians, an eConsult is a way to expand the team of experts contributing to care at no extra cost or inconvenience. Patients retain the option of obtaining a formal face-to-face second opinion, either at the Mayo Clinic or at another institution, if they or their physician desire it.

“By requesting an eConsult with Mayo Clinic, our patients can go out of network and not pay extra for a second opinion,” said Dr. Brennan, who estimates he uses eConsults in about two-thirds of his cases. “I do eConsults more often than a more traditional second opinion. It’s an easier and more cost effective way to get feedback on an aspect of care I’d like another opinion about.”

“I’ve never heard anyone say they’re upset with getting a second opinion,” he said. “It’s always helpful. It’s never a bad thing to have someone look over your shoulder and comment on the care you’re giving. It reassures the patient and helps them feel more secure in their diagnosis.”