ECHO Model

Project ECHO^® is a lifelong learning and guided practice model that revolutionizes medical education and exponentially increases workforce capacity to provide best-practice specialty care and reduce health disparities. The heart of the ECHO model is its hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing networks, led by expert teams who use multi-point videoconferencing to conduct virtual clinics with community providers.

UW ECHO Networks Core Components:

The heart of the ECHO model is the hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing networks, led by expert teams using multi-point videoconferencing to conduct virtual sessions with local education agencies. In this way, educators, special service providers, case managers, administrators, and others – who know their students, family, and community – have access to expert advice right in their home districts.

UW ECHO Networks provide ongoing support for educators and other professionals in a rural state where specialized knowledge is not always locally available. By connecting educators and experts, barriers to specialized knowledge are removed and outcomes improved.

1) Technology to leverage scarce resources

• Videoconferencing technology (Zoom)
• Real-time captioning
• Archived sessions

2) Didactic training on core professional development topics

• High incidence and timely topics
• Incentivized with professional credits
• Research and evidence based

3) Case presentations and ongoing co-management

• FERPA/HIPAA compliance
• Standardized case presentation forms
• Centered on individuals
• Access to ongoing support by expert teams

4) Outcome measurement

• Model fidelity measures
• Network pre/post tests
• Weekly session evaluation
• Qualitative learner outcomes
• Individual progress toward goals
• Standardization of recommendation