Specialist eConsults give Sesame clinicians a fast, secure way to get input from board-certified specialists — without sending the patient out for an in-person referral. eConsults are an add-on you can offer an existing Sesame patient during any visit when you recognize they would benefit from specialist input. You submit a clinical question and patient context, a specialist reviews the case, and results come back to you typically within a day or two.
Use eConsults to confirm a diagnosis, refine a care plan, interpret a lab or imaging result, or decide whether a specialty referral is truly needed.
Key resource
📄 eConsult Successful Submissions Guide (PDF) — read this first. It walks through what makes a strong eConsult submission, with example questions across specialties.
What is a Specialist eConsult?
An eConsult is a secure, asynchronous clinician-to-clinician conversation. You submit the patient's history, your specific question, and any relevant photos or diagnostics. A board-certified, US-based specialist reviews the case and responds with their impression and recommendations. You have 10 days after the specialist's initial reply to ask follow-up questions within the same consult — before or after your follow-up visit with the patient, whichever fits the clinical flow.
- 140+ specialties and sub-specialties available
- Response time: typically within a day or two
- 90% of eConsults improve the care plan; up to 70% help avoid an unnecessary in-person specialty visit
- Built-in follow-up: once results are back, the patient is prompted to book a follow-up visit with you to review them
When to use an eConsult
eConsults are a primary-care-level decision-support tool. Reach for one when you want to:
- Get a second opinion on a differential diagnosis or care plan
- Bridge a patient with an interim plan while they wait for an in-person specialty appointment
- Interpret a lab, imaging, or diagnostic result
- Decide whether a referral is needed — and confirm it would go to the right specialty
eConsults are not a substitute for in-person specialty care when one is clinically indicated. The specialist's response informs your care plan; you remain the treating clinician. Offering an eConsult is always your call, based on clinical judgment.
What the patient should know
- eConsults are an add-on to an existing Sesame visit. Patients cannot book an eConsult independently.
- The eConsult is paid for by the patient at a default price of $140, which includes a follow-up visit with you to review the results.
- A completed eConsult is uploaded to the patient's record and visible to them.
- If the specialist recommends in-person specialty care, the patient will need to schedule that separately; eConsult fees are not credited toward an in-person specialty visit.
- Patient information shared with the specialist is transmitted through a HIPAA-compliant platform.
Set expectations clearly before submitting. Patients should understand that an eConsult is a specialist's written input back to you, not a direct specialist visit.
Pricing & payout
- Patient-facing price: $140 by default
- Your portion: $20 by default, which includes the follow-up visit with the patient to review the eConsult results
The patient-facing price reflects a direct per-consult fee to the specialist network that powers eConsults, plus your portion. You are welcome to price your portion higher, and the patient-facing total will adjust accordingly.
To request a different rate now or at any time, use the service pricing update form.
Getting set up
Specialist eConsults are available to all Sesame clinicians. No separate activation or account setup is needed — you can order an eConsult directly from your Sesame provider portal during or after any patient visit.
How to submit an eConsult
From the Sesame provider portal, order an eConsult for an existing patient using the clinical notes you are already documenting. Once submitted:
- The patient receives an email with a link to complete payment for the eConsult.
- After payment is confirmed, the eConsult is sent to a board-certified specialist for review.
- You are notified when the specialist's response is ready.
- The patient is prompted to book a follow-up visit with you to review the results.
A step-by-step guide with screenshots is coming soon. In the meantime, see the eConsult Successful Submissions Guide (PDF) for guidance on writing a strong submission.
Talking to patients about eConsults
Most patient questions land in a few familiar buckets. Quick answers:
- "What is an eConsult?" A written consultation between your Sesame clinician and a board-certified specialist. Results typically come back within a day or two.
- "How is this different from seeing a specialist in person?" An eConsult is faster and lower cost, and it keeps your Sesame clinician at the center of your care. It does not replace an in-person visit when one is needed.
- "How much does it cost?" $140 by default, which includes a follow-up visit with your Sesame clinician to review the results. Your clinician may set a different price.
- "What if the specialist says I need to be seen in person?" Your Sesame clinician will help coordinate the next step. The eConsult fee is not credited toward an in-person specialty visit.
- "How long does it take?" The specialist's response typically comes back within a day or two; your Sesame clinician will share the relevant findings during your follow-up visit.
- "Is it HIPAA compliant?" Yes — patient information is transmitted through a HIPAA-compliant platform.
- "Is it refundable?" Contact the Sesame support team if you have a billing question.
Support
Questions about eConsults, pricing, or the workflow? Contact the Sesame Provider Success team at doctors@sesamecare.com.