Table 2 Resource utilization between E-consults and in-person visits for different diagnosis groups. Overall, more lab tests were ordered per person by E-consults, but this was not statistically significant. In-person visits ordered more imaging studies. Labs and imaging studies are reported as a mean per person with the range listed in parentheses
From: E-consults: an effective way to decrease clinic wait times in rheumatology
| Resource Utilization of Positive ANA Referrals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| In-person Visits | E-consults | p-value | |
| n = 84 | n = 55 | ||
| Labs (per person) | 3.2 (0–9) | 3.9 (0–10) | 0.11 |
| Imaging Studies (per person) | 1.1 (0–9) | 0.1 (0–2) | 0.0003 |
| Final Diagnoses | |||
| AARD | 8 | 3 | |
| Labs | 3.1 | 5.7 | 0.11 |
| Imaging Studies | 1.8 | 0 | 0.37 |
| ORD | 17 | 4 | |
| Labs | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.23 |
| Imaging Studies | 1.8 | 0 | 0.15 |
| No Rheumatic Disease | 44 | 42 | |
| Labs | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.18 |
| Imaging Studies | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.01 |
| No Diagnosis (at time of review) | 15 | 6 | |