Evaluation of PARC eConsults Pilot Formative Report

This document is a formative evaluation report on the PARC eConsults pilot, conducted by Mathematica and submitted to the Peterson Center on Healthcare. The report outlines the background of the pilot, which aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing electronic consultations (eConsults) in a private insurance market. The evaluation addresses key research questions regarding operational considerations, barriers, and facilitators to eConsult adoption, as well as the experiences of specialists involved in the program. The report details the methods used, including qualitative analysis of key informant interviews and descriptive analysis of eConsult utilization. It also presents findings related to the structure and implementation of eConsults within both a health system and independent practices in Arkansas. The document concludes with a discussion of the insights gained from the pilot and their potential applications in improving healthcare delivery and reducing costs associated with specialist services.