Cardiology eConsults
eConsults connect primary care providers with our cardiology specialists to quickly answer questions about questions related to blood pressure and cholesterol management, further testing or correlation with unexpected test results.
Through this service, primary care providers communicate directly with the cardiologists in order to answer a specific patient-focused question. Upon request, the cardiology specialist reviews the patient’s health information and any relevant testing, such as echocardiograms and stress testing, to generate a formal opinion in answer to the provider’s question.
Requesting an eConsult
Primary care providers interested in requesting a consult may contact Marshall Cardiology at 304-691-8500. A nurse will arrange the consult with the patient. Results will be returned to the requesting provider within 72 hours. In some cases, however, the specialist may decide that an in-person appointment is necessary and will make that recommendation in the eConsult answer to the referring provider.
The cardiologists at Marshall Health participating in eConsults specialize in electrophysiology and heart failure, as well as general cardiology.
eConsult Patient FAQs
An eConsult is a way for your primary care provider to ask a Marshall Cardiology specialist for help with your care. An eConsult is a question about your care that your provider sends to a specialist. The cardiology specialist will review your complete medical record and any relevant testing you have had, (e.g., EKGs, echocardiograms, stress testing, cardiac catheterizations.) You and your provider then use the specialist’s eConsult answer to choose the best care for you.
An eConsult is a way for you and your provider to take advantage of the advanced expertise of a specialist while keeping your care with your primary care provider.
With an eConsult, patients receive care from a specialist without having to schedule a separate appointment. That saves you time, while still providing you the best possible care.
Your health is very important to your primary care provider. An eConsult will only be used when your provider is confident that a specialist can make helpful recommendations about your care without seeing you in person.
In some cases, the specialist may decide that an in-person appointment is necessary and will make that recommendation in the eConsult answer to your provider. But most of the time, the specialist will be able to give your provider helpful answers without seeing you in person.
As with any service you receive as part of your health care—like an X-ray or blood test—you pay part of the cost of an eConsult. The coinsurance charge for an eConsult is often lower than it would be for an office visit with that specialist. If the specialist is not able to provide an answer, you won’t be charged.
If the specialist decides that a referral is necessary, you are not charged the eConsult, but you will be charged for the appointment with that specialist.