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Weitzman ECHO Advanced Primary Care (May 1st, 2025)
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.
Each session, the multidisciplinary team of regular 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 related to adult psychiatry and substance use disorders including mood disorders, trauma-informed care, medication management, comorbid pain, assessment of adult ADHD, and Motivational Interviewing. These didactic presentations and case discussions develop and strengthen participating providers' clinical competencies and confidence with complex patient cases in primary care.
Target Audience
This activity is appropriate for the following audiences:
- Primary care medical providers (MD, DO, NP, PA)
- Behavioral health providers
- Care team members
Learning Objectives
Related to psychiatric and substance use disorder care in a primary care setting, by the end of this module, participants will be able to:
- Describe and manage common co-occurring psychiatric conditions, medical diagnoses, and substance use disorders more effectively.
- Integrate screening, assessments, and symptomatology instruments to determine appropriate first-line treatments for common psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders.
- Assess patients’ levels of care, stratifying based on diagnostic criteria, and determine when a referral to a higher level of care is necessary.
- Better facilitate and improve medication management, behavioral approaches, and other therapies for common psychiatric and substance use disorder conditions.
- Demonstrate patient-centered and trauma-informed techniques in treatment, such as involving patients in shared decision-making.
- Address factors related to social determinants of health to assist patients and their support networks, such as navigating systems of care.
- Utilize different members of the care team more effectively in order to promote integrated care.
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 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 $475,000 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 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 a 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 is November 7, and sessions will occur every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 3-4pm ET / 12-1pm PT.
What level of participation is expected? 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 instructions on 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 on 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 Brad Kinsella, Education Specialist, at kinselb@mwhs1.com.
AMA Designation Statement
Moses/Weitzman Health System Inc. designates this Live activity for a maximum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Schedule
This ECHO meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month from 3pm ET/12pm PT to 4pm ET/1pm PT.
- 11/7/2024 Mood Disorders (Part 1): Initial Screening & Evaluation for Depression
- 11/21/2024 Mood Disorders (Part 2): Treatment for Depression
- 12/5/2024 Philosophy of Care, Harm Reduction, MI
- 12/19/2024 Anxiety Disorders
- 1/16/2025
- 2/6/2025
- 2/20/2025
- 3/6/2025
- 3/20/2025
- 4/3/2025
- 4/17/2025
- 5/1/2025
- 5/15/2025
- 6/5/2025
- 7/3/2025
- 7/17/2025
- 8/7/2025
- 8/21/2025
Core ECHO 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, DHSc, 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 Dr. Coble 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. Dr. Coble 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. Dr. Coble 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. Dr. Coble 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.
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.
Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Moses/Weitzman Health System Inc. and its Weitzman Institute is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
By completing this activity, you provide Moses/Weitzman Health System Inc. the permission to share completion data with the ACCME and the certifying board(s).
Please note that continuing education credit requirements differ by state, jurisdiction, and licensing agency. It is your responsibility to confirm if your licensing/credentialing agency will accept the credits offered by this activity.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AAPA Category I CMEThrough 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.
- 1.00 ACE/ASWBThrough 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.
- 1.00 ACPEThrough Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) credit to pharmacists at its activities.
- 1.00 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).
- 1.00 ANCCThrough 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.
- 1.00 APAThrough Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Psychological Association (APA) credit to psychologists at its activities.
- 1.00 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.
If you experience any technical issues, please submit a ticket to our support center. A representative from our team will respond as soon as possible.
Required Hardware/Software
- This online activity requires use of a device connected to the Internet, such as a computer tablet or mobile device.
- The activity will take place over Zoom, which must be accessed directly from within the activity.