Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes

University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s has joined Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO), a global initiative that uses a collaborative learning model with a small group framework that applies across disciplines for sustainable and profound change - All Teach, All Learn. RainbowECHO was developed from a passion to empower community providers in addressing behavioral and mental health concerns with confidence and compassion.

How Does it Work?

Participants in the ECHO network, experts and learners alike, rely on each other for continuous collaboration, problem solving and professional growth. ECHO participants engage in a virtual community with their peers where they share support, guidance and feedback. As a result, our collective understanding of how to disseminate and implement best practices across diverse disciplines continuously improves and expands.

Project ECHO is designed to help move knowledge through facilitated case discussions and didactic presentations. A learning loop is created through a hub and spoke knowledge sharing model for healthcare professionals to learn and provide excellent specialty care to patients in their own communities.

• Brief, high yield didactic instruction is given on specific topics on that ECHO subject
• Participants present de-identified cases from their own practice where there is a question of diagnosis or a question about management of symptoms.
• Participants and hub specialists, including pediatric psychiatrists and psychologists, discuss the cases, ask clarifying questions and provide recommendations.

Why Does it Matter?

Project ECHO gives healthcare providers live access to physician specialists and an interdisciplinary care team. A panel is available at the click of a button who can provide literature of best practices and resources and respond directly to you and your patient’s needs with the overall goal of overcoming disparities and geography to provide healthcare equity.