Project ECHO

Multistate

ECHO - the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes - expands the capacity of primary care clinicians in rural areas through the use of telehealth technology. This model does not provide care directly to patients. Rather, it provides a forum for rural primary care providers to consult specialists electronically to build the knowledge and skills necessary to administer specialty treatment to patients in their communities. Rural clinicians present de-identified patient cases to a team of specialists during bi-weekly Complex Care TeleECHO Clinics via video-conference, and receive immediate recommendations for treatment. The clinicians then provide in-home and office-based primary care, as well as care management and coordination for their patients. The ability to administer care “where the patients are” is key to the program. ECHO is expanding quickly as a model, with 121 locations in the US and 222 globally.  The system now covers 55 different specialties.

Partner Organizations

• University of New Mexico School of Medicine
• Various partners

Target Population

Patients who have complex needs and live in underserved areas

Care Team

Nurse practitioner/physicians assistant, registered nurse, behavioral health professional/social worker, community health workers, part-time physician

Timeframe

2003 - present

Results/ Studies

Various studies

Funding

Private grants

Resources

Program website

Profile by the Commonwealth Fund (2016)