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Learn more about ECHO™ projects, how you can start your own, and more in PEN-NC’s resource center.
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The Power to Cure, Multiplied
Ten years ago Dr. Sanjeev Arora, a hepatologist at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, realized that he would need to change the way he practiced medicine if he was going to prevent his patients from dying.
Preventing Liver Cancer Among Opioid Users
Liver cancer can be caused by long-term infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV). The opioid epidemic has increased the number of people who inject drugs. This may lead to an increased risk of HBV and HCV through use of shared equipment. These factors may contribute to the increase in liver cancer in the United States.
PEN-NC Glossary of Terms
Case Presentation: during each ECHO session a participant presents a real but anonymous case for discussion and recommendations. A case presentation form is used removing protected health information.
Community of Practice: a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals. Communities of practice often focus on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge to advance a domain of professional practice.
Didactic Presentation: brief presentation (15 to 20 minutes) on a specific learning topic.
ECHO: Extension for Community Outcomes
ECHO cohort: a group of participants (hub, spokes, subject matter experts) that participate in an ECHO program.
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- Open Cohort: The ECHO program has a designated start and end date but uses an open registration process allowing participants to attend intermittently.
- Closed cohort: The ECHO program has a designated start and end date and following the launch date does not admit new participants.
ECHO Institute: (UNM) Project ECHO’s legal entity, faculty and staff as well as headquarters and physical location at UNMHSC in Albuquerque, NM.
ECHO programs: are designed to be participation-based. Each ECHO program has a designated topic and target audience.
ECHO session: an individual ECHO session that is part of a specific ECHO program. The ECHO format is welcome and announcements, brief didactic presentation, discussion related to didactic, case presentation with de-identified details, discussion and recommendations, wrap up.
iECHO: Project ECHO’s web-based partner relations management tool that is used to manage teleECHO programs, collect data on teleECHO participation, and provide online resources to partners.
Hub: multidisciplinary team members that implement an ECHO program. The hub includes subject matter experts and ECHO facilitators.
Learning community: a group of people who work together towards a shared goal, and can be in-person or virtual.
Meta ECHO: (UNM) community of individuals and organizations using the ECHO model to help demonopolize expert knowledge.
Meta ECHO conference: (UNM) a bi-annual conference that offers presentation and networking
Partner Launch (Immersion) training: (UNM) In-depth training for those that are ready to implement the ECHO model and have signed Project ECHO’s partnership documents. Allows partners to delve deeper into skills and resources needed while developing ongoing relationships with ECHO staff to allow for successful replication.
Project ECHO model was developed by Sanjeev Arora, M.D. at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. It is a collaborative model of education and care management that helps clinicians provide expert-level care to patients wherever they live. The ECHO model is based on four core pillars: 1. use technology to leverage scarce resources, 2. sharing “best practices” to reduce disparities, 3. case-based learning to master complexity, and 4. a web-based database to monitor outcomes. Through an All teach, All learn approach, The ECHO model develops knowledge and capacity among community clinicians through on-going tele-mentoring and education.
Spoke: community participants registered for an ECHO session /program
Subject Matter Expert: an individual who has advanced knowledge in a specific field and is considered qualified to provide information and guidance. SMEs can be professionals and person with lived experience.
Super Hub: experienced ECHO partners that provide outreach, training, and support to new ECHO hubs and are responsible for facilitating the sharing of resources and research among the MetaECHO community.
Tele-health: two-way, real-time interactive communication between a patient and a physician or practitioner at a distant site through telecommunications equipment that includes, at a minimum, audio and visual equipment.
Tele-learning: learning by means of telecommunication or computer networks.
Tele-mentoring: a workforce development resource and system to improve health care quality and provider competency. Participants use technology to receive education, training and support from subject matter experts and colleagues. Examples include Project ECHO< webinars, podcasts, learning groups, and self-paced modules.
Zoom: Teleconferencing software used for ECHO sessions and programs
Core PEN-NC Concepts
PEN-NC: The first statewide network dedicated to the coordination of ECHO programs to promote collaboration, efficiency, and planned growth
PEN-NC Framework: The specific strategies PEN-NC implements to support and facilitate community-based Project ECHOs
- Landscape Analysis: Assess the strengths, resources, and needs of NC communities to inform Project ECHO implementation
- Community Engagement: Engage diverse stakeholders and people with lived experiences as key decision-makers
- Networking and Recruiting: Facilitate spoke and subject matter expert recruitment to advance equitable access to Project ECHO programs
- Coordinate Resources and Supports: Provide resources and tailored technical assistance to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Project ECHO programs
- Research and Evaluation: Utilize data to inform quality improvement and demonstrate impacts of Project ECHO programs
- Sustainability: Ensure the continued success of Project ECHO programs through funding and policy change
PEN-NC Advisory Group: Comprised of cross-sector stakeholders, the advisory group serves as a sounding board while providing oversight of PEN-NC strategic plans and activities
PEN-NC Evaluation Working Group: Comprised of advisory group members, the evaluation working group facilitates data-driven decision-making to inform Project ECHO implementation and sustainability.
PEN-NC Community Outreach and Engagement Working Group: Comprised of advisory group members, the community outreach and engagement working group facilitates equitable access to Project ECHO programs through spoke and subject matter expert recruitment.