Weitzman ECHO Advanced Primary Care 2022-2023

Program Information

Advanced Primary Care ECHO meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 3-4pm ET / 12-1pm PT.

Weitzman ECHO Advanced Primary Care connects rural primary care medical and behavioral health providers nationally with a multidisciplinary team of experts and specialists, using twice-monthly videoconferencing sessions, to improve quality of care and clinical outcomes for rural and underserved patients. Advanced Primary Care ECHO is designed to engage participating providers in a dynamic, interactive learning community emphasizing collaboration between medical and behavioral health providers to lessen variation in care.

From November 2022 to April 2023 we offered a 10-session module on adult psychiatry, and now we're excited to offer a second 10-session module on substance use disorders starting May 4th! Each session, faculty members give succinct didactic presentations on pertinent subjects, after which they offer practical guidance to participants' complex patient cases via case discussions. The didactic presentations in this module will cover high-value topics including polysubstance use, co-occurring behavioral health conditions, trauma-informed care, and medication-assisted treatment. These didactic presentations and case discussions develop and strengthen participating providers' clinical competencies and confidence with complex patient cases.

Target Audience

This activity is appropriate for the following audiences:

Primary care medical providers (MD, DO, NP, PA)
Behavioral health providers
Care team members

CME and CE credits will be provided for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and clinical social workers, among others, by Moses/Weitzman Health System, an accredited provider through Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education. This CME/CE opportunity meets the new Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act requirements from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for training on substance use disorders. Providers planning to receive or renew their DEA registration can earn all 8 required MATE hours by participating in the SUD module!

Substance Use Disorder Module Learning Objectives

Related to patients experiencing substance use disorders in a primary care setting, by the end of the second 10-session module, participants will be able to:

Utilize patient-centered approaches to assist patients and their support networks in navigating systems of care and recovery to address factors including social determinants of health.
Demonstrate a trauma-informed lens in treatment.
Illustrate best practices in screening, assessing, and determining appropriate levels of care.
Describe and manage common co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions and polysubstance use more effectively.
Use motivational interviewing and other behavioral techniques to improve patient outcomes.
Better differentiate and implement medication management strategies.

Acknowledgement of Support

Weitzman Institute is pleased to announce that this ECHO is being offered as part of the HRSA Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning Program (TTELP) in order to improve rural health outcomes.

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $457,298 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS and 0% funded by nongovernment source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

FAQs

What is Project ECHO®? Project ECHO® was developed by Sanjeev Arora, MD, at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and is a collaborative model of medical education and care management that helps improve clinicians' knowledge and skills to improve patient care. ECHOs are designed to be a longer term continuing education programs to create a virtual community for providers and care team members to connect and learn from leading experts and receive guidance from peers and experts. This ECHO learning community provides mentorship and peer support which make this model unique and provide long-lasting impact beyond typical e-learning styles. Weitzman ECHO clinics are specifically designed to meet the needs of safety net primary care providers and their communities like providers practicing in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

How is each ECHO session structured? Each ECHO session consists of a didactic presentation by the ECHO's expert faculty and real patient case discussion presented by participating providers. During each ECHO session, participants learn skills and receive clinical pearls from the expert faculty didactic presentation and the case discussion and recommendations.

How much does it cost to participate? Enrollment is now open at no cost for the next curriculum year.

Who should participate? Primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, nurses, or other members of the care team are welcome to join and register, with special priority given to providers from rural settings.

When do sessions occur? This Project ECHO will occur twice monthly for one hour. Our kickoff session for the SUD module will occur May 4th, 2023, and sessions will occur every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 3-4pm ET / 12-1pm PT until our last session on September 23rd, 2023.

What level of participation is expected? Advanced Primary Care ECHO consists of two, 10-session modules. Each module, ECHO participants are expected to:

Attend at least 75% of sessions
Complete pre- and post-surveys
Submit at least one case for recommendations
Share webcams, when available
Engage during peer case discussion

How do I join the live sessions? Do I need any special equipment? Weitzman ECHO sessions are held virtually using the Weitzman Education Platform and Zoom Video Conferencing. Access is available on any computer with an internet connection. For instruction on how to how to join the live session, follow these Step-by-step instructions: Entering a Live Session.

How do I claim credit and download my CE/CME certificate? After the live session is completed, the session evaluation will be available right in the platform. Once you complete the session evaluation, you will be able to claim your credits and download your certificate.

How do I sign up? Register now by clicking on the "Register" tab at the top right of this page. After you complete registration, we will follow up with onboarding materials so you can join the program. If you have any questions regarding registration or the ECHO program, please contact Anthony DiMartino, Education Specialist, at dimarta@mwhs1.com.

Activity summary

Available credit:

20.00 AAPA Category I CME
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Academy of PAs (AAPA) credit to physician assistants at its activities. Participants should only claim commensurate credit with the extent of their participation in the activity.
20.00 ACE/ASWB
Through Joint Accreditation Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) credit to social workers at its activities.
20.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to physicians at its activities via Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
20.00 ANCC
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) nursing credit to nurses at its activities.
20.00 APA
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Psychological Association (APA) credit to psychologists at its activities.
20.00 Participation Hour(s)
If you are not able to utilize any of the above credit types, you are able to download an unaccredited Participation Certificate for your records.

Activity opens:

10/12/2022

Activity expires:

12/31/2023

Schedule

This ECHO meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month from 3pm ET / 12pm PT to 4pm ET / 1pm PT.

Below are the dates of each session:

Module 2 – Substance Use Disorders

May 4, 2023 – Philosophy of Care, Harm Reduction, & Motivational Interviewing
May 18, 2023 – Social Determinants of Health & Resource Accessibility
June 1, 2023 – Medication Treatment of Substance Abuse
June 15, 2023 – Trauma-informed Care
July 6, 2023 – MOUD Treatment Challenges
July 20, 2023 – Physical Comorbidities
August 3, 2023 – Psychiatric Comorbidities
August 17, 2023 – Polysubstance Use
September 7, 2023 – Treating SUD in People with Comorbid Pain
September 21, 2023 – Substance Use, Trauma, and Secondary Trauma: Effects & Prevention

Module 1 – Adult Psychiatry*

November 17, 2022 – Mood Disorders (Part 1): Screening & Initial Evaluation for Depression
December 1, 2022 – Mood Disorders (Part 2): Treatment for Depression
December 15, 2022 – Anxiety Disorders
January 5, 2023 – PTSD & Grief Adjustment Disorders
January 19, 2023 – Suicidality & Crises Management
February 2, 2023 – Psychiatric Medication Management: Antipsychotics & Mood Stabilizers
February 16, 2023 – Assessment & Treatment of Adult ADHD
March 2, 2023 – Social Determinants of Health & Adverse Childhood Events
March 16, 2023 – Non-pharmacological Treatment Modalities
April 6, 2023 – Alzheimer's Assessment & Treatment

*Recordings of the previous module can be found under the continue tab in the 'Weitzman ECHO Advanced Primary Care 2022-2023: Session Recordings and Materials' page.

Faculty

Raghuram B. Bhat, MD, MA, FAPA, is a psychiatrist in private practice, with a special interest in post-traumatic stress disorder. He is board-certified in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, addiction medicine, and community and public psychiatry. In addition to his private practice in Camas, WA, Dr. Bhat provides psychiatric consultation to primary care clinics in underserved areas of Washington through a collaborative care program, and via e-consulting. Prior to private practice, he had held various medical leadership roles, including Chief Medical Officer of a community mental health organization. Dr. Bhat attended medical school at Saba University and completed his psychiatry residency and geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Stony Brook University. He also completed a community-based integrated care fellowship through the University of Washington. He is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Michelle Coble, LCSW is the Associate Director of Behavioral Health at Community Medical Centers, Inc. (CMC). Community Medical Centers is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in San Joaquin County, providing integrated services to over 100,000 patients in 3 counties. When Michelle was hired by CMC in 2016 the were 10 behavioral health providers on the team. Since becoming associate director of behavioral health, CMC’s Department of Behavioral Health has grown tremendously and she now helps manage a staff of 75 that includes licensed clinicians, associate social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, a psychologist, case managers, and community health workers. Michelle has also been instrumental in helping to expand CMC’s behavioral health services providing mental health, substance use disorder and care coordination services at CMC’s 28 centers, CMC’s Recovery Center and Respite Center, local homeless shelter, and school-based counseling services. In addition to developing case management services that address patients’ social determinants of health that link patient with basic needs such as housing, food, insurance, and other basic needs. Michelle provides clinical supervision to all associate social workers gaining hours towards licensure and has developed a robust internship program in partnership with a local university. Michelle received her Master of Social Work in 2008 from Stanislaus State University, has been licensed as a clinical social worker since 2015, and has been working in the social work field for over 15 years.

Matthew Huddleston, MD, has worked as a Family Medicine Physician with a focus on HIV, Hepatitis C, and substance use disorders at Community Health Center, Inc. since 2001. Dr. Huddleston received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Huddleston has served as co-lead faculty member on Project ECHO Hepatitis C/HIV since the program’s development in 2012. Dr. Huddleston also serves as a preceptor for Community Health Center, Inc.’s Nurse Practitioner Residency Program.

Melanie Lin, MD, CPC, is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and Certified Professional Coder currently serving as AltaMed Health Services’ Medical Director of Integrated Clinical Services. In this capacity, Dr. Lin oversees the organization’s dental, behavioral health, senior care and health education departments as well as the radiology and lab programs. Prior to joining AltaMed, Dr. Lin worked with DaVita HealthCare Partners in multiple capacities, including as the Department Chair of Quality Improvement. Dr. Lin attended medical school at Tufts University and completed her Internal Medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Lei McMiller, LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with Community Medical Centers(CMC), in Stockton CA since 2018, as the Associate Director of Substance Use. She has a passion for working with the underserved, high risk population, which related well to CMC Mission. She was recruited by CMC to build and implement their SUD Program, which she oversees throughout the San Joaquin and Solan County. She received her Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix.

Joel Ramirez, MD, is Chief Medical Officer for Camarena Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Central California. He completed his medical education at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and achieved board certification in both Family Medicine and Sports Medicine after training in these fields at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Dr. Ramirez also completed a Master’s in Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of Business. Having been raised in the San Joaquin Valley, he is pleased to be back working for underserved populations and helping to develop Camarena Health as a teaching health center.

Dan Wilensky, MD, has been a proud member of the Community Health Center, Inc. team since 2003. He is a Family Medicine Doctor, having completed his University of Connecticut Family Medicine Residency in 1995. In addition to serving on the ConferMED-ECHO faculty, he also has also served on Project ECHO Complex Care Management Faculty since its inception in 2015. Dr. Wilensky is the Chief Preceptor/Medical Consultant for Community Health Center’s APRN Residency Program and an agency-wide champion of best practices in chronic pain treatment. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of ConferMED.

Weitzman Institute Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of the Weitzman Institute to ensure that Continuing Education (CE) activities are independent and free of commercial bias. To ensure educational content is objective, balanced, and guarantee content presented is in the best interest of its learners' and the public, the Weitzman Institute requires that everyone in a position to control educational content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples can be found at accme.org.

Faculty participating in a Weitzman Institute-sponsored activity must disclose to the planning committee and audience all financial or other relationship(s) with ineligible companies.