Grant: Operating Grant: SPOR PIHCI Network - Comparative Prg. and Policy Analysis

One of the most promising innovations that have been piloted to improve access to care is eConsult. eConsult is a model of asynchronous communication that allows family physicians (or nurse practitioners) to electronically consult specialists regarding their patients' medical issues. This model of eConsult was first developed and piloted in the Champlain region in Ontario and then spread throughout other regions in Ontario (ON). It is also in early stages of implementation in Manitoba (MB), Quebec (QC) and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). To date, few strategies have been developed by the provinces to expand regional eConsult pilot projects at the health system level. However, over the past year, both professional associations and provincial growing interest in potential system-level strategies to support its expansion. Building on previous work, the aim of this comparative policy analysis project is to inform decision-making for the expansion of eConsult by supporting the development of a scaling up plan, a crucial step in the scaling-up process, in close collaboration with key stakeholders in Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, and to foster cross-jurisdictional learning. More specifically, this study will: 1)Describe the designs of eConsult piloted in four provinces •Logic models (document analysis, validation with advisory committees). 2)Identify policy barriers and enablers to scaling-up eConsult in each province. •Policy analysis (policy documents, interviews with 10 key stakeholders per province). 3)Propose and prioritize strategies for the scale-up of eConsult appropriate to each province's context. •Nominal group in each province. 4)Share experiences across jurisdictions and learn from each province's policy issues and strategies for the scale-up of eConsult. •Pan-Canadian deliberative policy dialogue.