Project echo is a telementoring system which connects primary care practitioners with multidisciplinary teams of specialists. This method is designed to improve the care for patients with complex health conditions, especially in communities that are rural and underserved.
The ECHO model was created at the University of New Mexico in 2003 and was primarily focused on treating the hepatitis C patients in underserved populations and prisons. Since then, the ECHO model has been replicated across a variety of areas of clinical practice, including asthma chronic pain, and diabetes. The ECHO model is backed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the GE Foundation, and the Leona M. and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust.
During ECHO sessions participants present de-identified case studies and take part in a group discussion with experts on content via videoconferencing. In this “all teach, all learn” format, the experts are able to share their expertise and experience with others to help answer questions, provide 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 high-quality care. If a patient fails to adhere to their prescribed therapy, the specialists can recommend mid-course corrections. This can help prevent treatment failure and enhances the likelihood of an outcome that is positive. Specialists can also make use of the ECHO system to track their data and identifying gaps in care. This information is then relayed back to local doctors, enabling them to better provide their patients with the best possible care.