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.

The ECHO spokes and wheel model

 

UW Project ECHO

The power of Project ECHO lies in the fidelity of translation and replication of the core components. WIND ensures all UW ECHO networks include the following components. 

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