Evaluating the impact of program consultation in health services

This article describes a methodology developed to be useful to both consultant and consultee in evaluating their mutual efforts to improve agency health service programs. Reporting forms and instruction manuals based upon the concept of mutuality in consultation were used by 19 consultants in 29 consultations. Two-thirds of the respondents reported some increase in problem-solving ability. The implications of evaluating program consultation are discussed, as are certain issues in consultation: definition, implementation, process, utilization, impact delays, interpersonal interactions, hidden agendas, organizational learning, and outcome measurements.