Project Echo
What is Project ECHO?
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) was launched in 2003 at the University of New Mexico, founded by Sanjeev Arora, MD, a liver disease specialist. Frustrated by his inability to treat all the hepatitis C patients in New Mexico, Arora envisioned a way to expand care by sharing the knowledge and skills necessary for primary care providers to manage hepatitis C patients both before and after specialty care visits.
The Project ECHO model uses a hub-and-spoke approach to knowledge-sharing. Through secure video connections, Project ECHO connects multiple communities to a live panel of subject matter experts, who provide guidance and support to clinical providers, administrators, and para-health professionals. This model focuses on moving knowledge rather than patients, allowing providers in remote areas to gain access to specialized expertise and resources.
During ECHO sessions, providers present de-identified patient cases to expert teams who mentor them on managing common, complex conditions. Short, didactic presentations complement these case-based discussions to enhance content knowledge and share evidence-based best practices. Central to the ECHO model is the “all teach, all learn” modality, where everyone, including providers, experts, and participants, contributes their knowledge and insights. This collaborative approach fosters a dynamic learning environment, ensuring that all participants benefit from the collective expertise of the group.
Providers can participate in ECHO programs tailored to complex conditions that align with their areas of interest.
Interested in Project ECHO or becoming a hub site? Contact Magen Jordan.
ECHO Programs at Texas A&M Telehealth Institute
ECHO-SAFE
Through ECHO-SAFE, the Texas Teleforensic Remote Assistance Center (Tex-TRAC) team supports healthcare providers in emergency departments conducting sexual assault forensic medical exams using a knowledge-sharing approach where subject matter experts offer expertise through telementoring.
Contact: Kim Zemanek
EMPOWER
EMPOWER (Enhancing Mental Health Practice, Organization and Workforce through Education and Readiness) is the first Texas-based opioid-centered Project ECHO hub. We help rural healthcare providers across Texas address the opioid epidemic for their patients and increase rural healthcare access. By moving medical knowledge, not patients, patients can be treated where they are rather than where specialists practice.
Contact: Hannah League
Patient Safety Organization
The Patient Safety Organization is available as a resource for hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers to improve patient safety and quality of care. Our goal is to help healthcare providers reduce or eliminate risks and hazards associated with the delivery of patient care. Reporting is done voluntarily, and all information remains confidential.
Contact: Ellen Martin
School to Scrubs ECHO
The Texas A&M University Telehealth Institute is partnering with the Texas A&M University College of Medicine K-12 Rural Medicine Outreach Program to offer a specialized ECHO program aimed at supporting school counselors in rural districts! This program is designed to help counselors guide students interested in pursuing a medical degree, providing them with the tools, resources, and knowledge to navigate the path from high school to medical school. Through expert-led sessions and collaborative learning, counselors will gain insights to better support their students' aspirations in the medical field.
Contact: Magen Jordan
TRed ECHO
The Texas A&M Telehealth Institute in collaboration with Collegiate Edu-Nation is committed to bringing together a diverse range of mental health expertise, experiences, and perspectives by utilizing our Texas Rural Education (TREd) ECHO program, which seeks to empower and equip school counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and administrators with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to promote mental well-being and create resilient school communities. Through shared learning, case-based discussions, and interactive sessions, the series aims to unite school-based professionals to improve student mental health outcomes and ultimately shape a brighter future for rural communities in Texas.
Contact: Magen Jordan