eCASE
eCASE (electronic Consultative Access to Specialist Expertise) is a novel strategy to enhance patient care, currently in the prototype phase. For traditional referrals, patients often wait months to see a specialist, however, minor advice may be all that is needed. Conversations are mediated through a web-based platform, and Primary Care Providers (PCPs) are able to attach clinical documents that may help specialists in making a recommendation. An educational interaction with knowledge transfer is encouraged when the specialist answers the call. In the spirit of “capacity building”, specialists are recruited for their interest in teaching and communication as well as their recognition as key opinion leaders. Patients may have their healthcare issue dealt with by their PCP instead of needing to see a specialist. This will often render face-to-face consultation unnecessary.