[AVBC 2025] Enhancing Value-Based Care Through Primary Care-Specialist Communications
Care Process & Redesign
Technology
Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference
SingHealth
28 November 2025
The aim of the Virtual Professional Consultation (VPC) is to reduce unnecessary specialist referrals by providing primary. VPC demonstrates clear value through high referral avoidance rates and rapid response times achieved without ringfencing specialist.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 28 November 2025
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Technology, Quality Improvement, Workflow Redesign, Access To Care, Referral Rate, Operational Management, Resource Allocation, Telehealth, Tele-Consultation
About this Content
Aims
The aim of the Virtual Professional Consultation (VPC) is to reduce unnecessary specialist referrals by providing primary care physicians (PCPs) with access to specialists for opinions or inputs on patient care.
Background
Primary care physicians increasingly manage complex medical conditions. While some patients require specialist care, many can be managed effectively in primary care with specialist guidance. Building on NHG Health's successful Co-ACT model, VPC is a national initiative.
Methods
VPC operates on two tiers of communication that take place asynchronously: Tier 1 involves general discussions with no patient-identifiable information, and Tier 2 involves case-specific consultations where patient-identifiable information is shared.
Results
Since its implementation from September 2024 to 25 August 2025, VPC has demonstrated significant impact on care delivery, with a 73% referral avoidance rate and 49 of the 67 queries received managed at primary care.
Conclusion
VPC demonstrates clear value through high referral avoidance rates and rapid response times achieved without ringfencing specialist resources. Successful scaling requires addressing system integration challenges and building public awareness.
Lessons Learnt
VPC effectively optimizes resource utilization by eliminating the need to ringfence asynchronous communication. The unified Teams channel has exceeded the original intent for knowledge sharing by facilitating cross-morbidity case discussions.
Keywords
Primary care, Specialist, Consultation, Referral, Productivity, Resource utilisation
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | SingHealth |
Organization(s) Involved | SingHealth Polyclinics, National Heart Centre Singapore, SingHealth HQ |
Platform(s) | Appropriate & Value-based Care Conference |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Cardiology, Oncology, Nephrology, Respiratory Therapy, Endocrinology, Neurology |
Project Lead(s) | Galih Kunarso |
Project Member(s) | Galih Kunarso |
Connect with this contributor!
Galih Kunarso - galih.kunarso@singhealth.com.sg