Impact of a Pharmacist-Run Electronic Consult Service in a Network of Primary Care Patient-Centered Medical Homes.

Background: Electronic consults (eConsults) allow for asynchronous, consultative, provider-to-provider communication. A pharmacy run eConsult service was initiated in a group of primary care clinics composed of 60 attending internal medicine primary care physicians (PCP), 100 internal medicine residents, and 10 pharmacists serving more than 60,000 patients. This study aims to describe (1) the number and types of eConsults placed to pharmacists; (2) the number of eConsults completed, converted to an office visit, or declined by a pharmacist; (3) the number of pharmacist recommendations made and implemented within 30 days of eConsult placement; and (4) PCP perceptions of the eConsult service.

Improved patient access and outcomes with the integration of an eConsult program (teledermatology) within a large academic medical center.

Background: Insurance, racial, and socioeconomic health disparities continue to pose significant challenges for access to dermatologic care. Studies applying teledermatology to increase access to underinsured individuals and ethnic minorities are limited.

Objective: To determine how the implementation of a teledermatology program affects access to health care and patient outcomes.

Pure red cell aplasia caused by ribavirin and interferon treatment.

Anemia is a common complication of hepatitis C (HCV), and antiviral treatment can further increase this risk. We present the case of a 59-year-old man with HCV treated with ribavirin and pegylated interferon alpha (INF-α) who presented with severe anemia. Two months after initiating treatment his hemoglobin dropped from 14.