The unfortunate reality of modern healthcare is that healthcare professionals have become disengaged, siloed, and unconnected. Despite significant investments in technology and physical infrastructure, our health systems remain fragmented, and we have a very long road ahead if we are ever to achieve the level of communication and efficiency that affordable value-based care demands. Many primary care providers are still not able to easily consult with specialists, especially if they work in different systems or use disparate EHRs. Adding to the challenges, approximately 50% of referrals could be addressed with just a brief communication between referring and consulting providers, a practice that is often referred to as curbside consultation. That means referring providers could retain many of their patients with support from specialists when such is appropriate. This would save patients time and effort, which is especially impactful because specialist visit wait times are often 60 to 90 days.
But even curbsides aren’t easy. Even when referring providers have an established referral relationship with a consultant, the process is encumbered with phone tag and interruptions. Given all of our modern technology, healthcare professionals should not have to waste precious time just trying to reach one another. When a care team cannot seamlessly communicate, patient diagnoses and treatment are delayed, and suffering is prolonged. This divided state of healthcare is not only unacceptable but preventable. The time has come to make curbsides more connected.
That’s why Dr. Richard Popwell, a neurologist, physician leader, and Air Force veteran, started DocSide—an intuitive, modernized curbside experience delivered through a mobile and web-based application that streamlines communication, documentation, and charge capture. DocSide is the grassroots curbside platform built for healthcare professionals to optimize their currently existing referral networks. With DocSide, referring providers save valuable time and receive documentation of every case. Any DocSide member can search for any other member in their state ecosystem by name or specialty. From there, a referring provider can rapidly ask any clinical question and submit it to the selected DocSide member. The specialist will receive a notification of the message and be prompted to answer the clinical question as soon as possible. Should further communication be necessary, a chat feature (individual to each curbside) enables expedient clarification. Upon completion, DocSide creates a Medical Note of every curbside for the referring provider and consulting specialist PLUS a charge sheet for the consulting specialist to capture reimbursement. That’s right; consulting specialists can get paid for answering provider-provider curbside consultations. It’s time to upgrade your workflow and get access to specialist expertise. Connect your network and join the DocSide today.
