Alethea Learning Session Recap: Unlocking Practice Efficiencies with Alethea – Presented by Dr. Natalie Ward

Efficiency is a growing challenge in primary care, with providers balancing patient care, administrative responsibilities, and staying up to date with medical advancements. The ability to quickly access specialist advice can significantly reduce workload and improve patient outcomes.

In a recent Alethea Learning Session, Dr. Natalie Ward, a family physician at Southport Family Practice and a member of Alethea’s Physician Advisory Board, shared how Alethea’s eConsult platform helps streamline workflows, enhance decision-making, and improve patient care. With over five years of experience using Alethea, Dr. Ward has made eConsults an essential part of her daily practice, helping her manage cases more efficiently while reducing unnecessary specialist referrals.

Key Takeaways from the Session

Maximizing Efficiency with Alethea

Dr. Ward emphasized that reducing administrative burdens, optimizing patient flow, and ensuring timely access to specialists are key to improving efficiency in primary care. Alethea’s asynchronous eConsult platform allows providers to consult specialists without delays, helping them make faster, more informed decisions.

Instead of spending hours researching complex cases or waiting weeks for a specialist appointment, PCPs can submit an eConsult and receive expert advice within 24 - 48 hours. This improves patient care while minimizing unnecessary referrals.

How Alethea Enhances Daily Practice

Dr. Ward highlighted several benefits of using Alethea in clinical workflows:

• Saving Time – Reduces time spent on phone calls, faxes, and independent research by providing direct access to specialists.
• Improving Patient Care – Faster access to expert advice leads to quicker treatment decisions and better continuity of care.
• Reducing Workload – Keeps specialist communication structured within the platform, eliminating back-and-forth emails or calls.
• Increasing Revenue – eConsults are billable services, creating an opportunity for additional income while improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Ward completes 38 - 45 eConsults per month, demonstrating how easily Alethea can be integrated into everyday practice.

Best Practices for Writing Effective eConsults

Dr. Ward also shared insights from specialists on how to structure eConsults for faster, clearer responses. A well-formulated eConsult reduces delays, improves diagnostic accuracy, and minimizes unnecessary follow-ups.

1. Keep Consult Requests Clear and Concise

• Cardiology: Specialists prefer focused questions with key clinical details rather than lengthy case summaries.
• ENT: Video recordings provide better diagnostic clarity than static images, especially for oral lesions or vocal cord concerns.

2. Include Essential Supporting Information

• Dermatology: A single dermoscopy photo is not enough. Include a clinical image, symptom duration, medication history, and systemic symptoms.
• Orthopedics: Imaging results should be accompanied by history, physical exam findings, and a clear question.

3. Attach Relevant Investigations

• Urology & Internal Medicine: Specialists often review eConsults on mobile devices but need to log into Netcare for reports. Attaching lab results, imaging, and previous notes can speed up response times.
• Neurology: Include patient sex, gender, and pronouns, as they impact medication recommendations and treatment plans.

Following these guidelines helps specialists provide faster, more precise recommendations, improving patient care.

How Dr. Ward Uses Alethea for Common Specialties

Dr. Ward seamlessly integrates Alethea into her daily practice, using eConsults to enhance decision-making and improve patient management. Below are some examples of how she leverages the platform across different specialties:

Cardiology

• Interpreting echocardiograms, Holter monitors, and ECGs.
• Consulting on medication adjustments for hypertension and arrhythmias.

Female Health

• Managing postmenopausal bleeding and perimenopause symptoms.
• Determining hormone replacement therapy (HRT) options based on risk factors.

Gastroenterology

• Evaluating incidental findings like borderline splenomegaly.
• Consulting on IBS management and abnormal screening results.

Dermatology

• Identifying benign vs. concerning skin lesions.
• Managing treatment-resistant rashes and acne medication side effects.

Internal Medicine

• Managing chronic conditions like POTS and polycythemia.
• Consulting on pre-referral investigations for hematology concerns.

Integrating Alethea into Daily Workflow

To maximize efficiency, Dr. Ward shared strategies for making eConsults a seamless part of daily practice:

• Send eConsults Immediately After Patient Visits – Reduces documentation workload and ensures details remain fresh.
• Batch Consults at Lunch or End of Day – Resolves any remaining cases while maintaining clinic efficiency.
• Use Ava EMR Integration – Allows consults to be initiated directly from the EMR, streamlining workflow.

Optimizing Specialist Responses & Follow-Ups

• Acknowledge Specialist Replies – A quick acknowledgment reassures specialists their advice was received.
• Follow Up Within the Same Consult – If new results arrive, update the specialist within the same thread instead of starting a new case.

These small but important steps help maintain strong, efficient collaboration between primary care providers and specialists.

Dr. Ward emphasized in her session that Alethea is not only a referral tool, but also a resource that empowers primary care providers to deliver higher-quality, more efficient patient care.

By integrating eConsults into daily practice, PCPs can:

• Reduce unnecessary referrals and ensure specialist visits are reserved for the most appropriate cases.
• Enhance patient management by providing rapid access to expert guidance.
• Streamline workflows to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden.

Alethea provides an effective solution for PCPs looking to optimize their practice while improving patient care. You can access the full notes from Dr. Ward’s learning session or request a recording of her learning session by emailing us at sales@aletheamedical.com.

Looking to Improve Your Practice’s Efficiency?

Join Alethea today for free and experience the benefits of eConsults for yourself. Sign up Here or Schedule a Free Demo with our Team