Migrant Clinicians Network has spearheaded a number of ECHO projects to best utilize limited resources to effectively address the health needs of populations in rural and underserved areas, in areas where both health care accessibility and specialty care for patients, and educational opportunities and networking for clinicians are limited.
What is the ECHO model?
Project ECHO is an innovative learning and knowledge sharing platform developed by the University of New Mexico Project ECHO. Through teleconferencing, telehealth technology, and clinical management tools, Project ECHO provides training, guidance, mentoring, and networking for clinicians in underserved areas, to help build speciality care capacity in the primary care model.
The ECHO model develops knowledge and capacity among community clinicians through:
- Case-based learning: Using case studies, expert specialists lead clinicians through cases they may encounter regarding the health concern at hand.
- Knowledge networks: Regularly scheduled teleclinics, led by expert specialists and community partners, provide opportunities for ongoing dialogue and troubleshooting over time.
- Learning loops: Clinicians encountering similar situations in the exam room can share their best practices and co-manage diverse patients in real world situations and practice.