Project Echo – Telementoring for Complex Health Conditions

Project echo is a model of telementoring that connects primary care doctors with multidisciplinary teams of specialists. This model is designed to enhance the care provided to patients with complex health issues, particularly in rural areas and those who are underserved.

The ECHO model was created at the University of New Mexico in 2003, with a focus on treating the hepatitis C patients from populations that are underserved and prisons. Since then, the ECHO model has been replicated in numerous clinical areas such http://projectechonevada.com/how-healthcare-providers-use-data-room-services/ as asthma, chronic pain, and diabetes. The ECHO model is backed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as well as the GE Foundation, and the Leona M. and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust.

During ECHO sessions participants present de-identified case studies and participate in discussions with content experts via videoconferencing technology. In this “all teach and all learn” format, the experts share their knowledge and experience with other experts to help them answer questions, give feedback, and provide clinical recommendations.

The ECHO model allows remote monitoring of the patient’s outcomes remotely. Specialists from the University of New Mexico monitor the plans of each community-based provider’s treatment to ensure their patients receive the highest quality of care. They are able to make mid-course adjustments when a patient does not adhere to the prescribed treatment. This can prevent treatment failure and increases the chance of a successful outcome. Moreover, specialists can use the ECHO system to monitor data and discover gaps in care. The information is then passed back to local doctors who can then better provide their patients with the best possible care.