Program Information

This ECHO program meets regularly on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 12pm ET / 9am PT. 

The Weitzman ECHO Complex Integrated Pediatrics connects primary care medical and behavioral health providers nationally with a multidisciplinary team of specialists in complex pediatric care. The Complex Integrated Pediatrics clinic uses twice-monthly videoconferencing sessions to explore a variety of medical and behavioral health topics designed to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes for rural and underserved children and adolescents. Experts from Community Health Center, Inc., the School-Based Health Alliance, and rotating guest specialists present on key issues and provide recommendations on challenging cases posed by participants. The clinic is designed to emphasize the integration and collaboration between medical and behavioral health providers, reducing variations in care. Participants develop new clinical competencies and confidence with complex pediatric cases. The 10-month curriculum addresses topics such as pediatric obesity, school violence, anxiety, asthma, dermatology, and suicidality. 

Target Audience

This activity is appropriate for the following audiences:

• Primary care providers (MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs)
• Behavioral health providers (Psychologists, social workers, therapists)
• Nurses
• Other members of the care team

Learning Objectives

Related to children and adolescents, by the end of this program participants will be able to:

1. Use evidence-based techniques in the screening, treatment, and management of common behavioral health diagnoses
2. Employ best practices in the screening, treatment, and management of infectious and chronic diseases
3. Apply recommended approaches that address preventable diseases and encourage a healthy lifestyle foundation for children and families
4. Share self-care strategies during patient visits and implement these strategies for oneself to combat burnout, compassion fatigue, and toxic stress
5. Demonstrate an awareness of the impact that race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation have on the care of children and their families

Acknowledgement of Support

Weitzman Institute is pleased to announce that this ECHO is being offered as part of the Telehealth Technology-Enabled Learning Program (TTELP) in order to improve rural health outcomes. This project 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 $457,298.00 with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS and 0% funded by nongovernment sources. The contents are those of the authors 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 will occur on October 12, 2022, and sessions will occur every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 12:00pm ET.  

What level of participation is expected? Complex Integrated Pediatrics ECHO consists of 20 sessions in total. 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@chc1.com.