Step 1:  Identify the specialty area of the e-consult request.  

Step 2:  Define the primary reason for the e-consult:  

• Is the current assessment and/or approach correct?  

• What other/ongoing diagnostics should be considered?  

• Should other treatment/management options be considered?  

• Should the patient be seen?  

• Is the patient a candidate for a research study?   

Step 3:  Create a one-page clinical summary (first page of the e-consult submission). This does not need to be a new clinical summary.  The summary can be the most recent clinical note in your EMR, as long as the following components are included.  

• Primary reason for request  
• The specific question being asked  
• Chief complaint  
• History of illness 

Step 4:  Provide additional supporting information to accompany the one-page clinical summary.

• Clinical notes  
• Lab reports 
• Imaging  
• Pathology 
• Other relevant information