Frequently Asked Questions

  • Extension of Community Health Outcomes

    • Enhancing Healthcare Capacity: Project ECHO aims to build the capacity of primary care providers and healthcare professionals by connecting them with specialists and experts in various fields. This collaboration helps providers gain knowledge, confidence, and skills to manage complex medical conditions and cases.

    • Improving Health Outcomes: By facilitating ongoing learning and mentoring relationships between specialists and primary care providers, Project ECHO aims to improve patient care and health outcomes, especially for individuals in underserved or remote communities.

    • Reducing Health Disparities: One of the core goals of Project ECHO is to address healthcare disparities by bringing specialized knowledge and expertise to areas where access to specialty care might be limited. This helps in providing equitable healthcare services to all individuals, regardless of their geographic location.

    • Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Project ECHO fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, academics, and other stakeholders. This collaborative model encourages the sharing of knowledge, best practices, and innovative approaches to healthcare challenges.

    • Expanding Access to Best Practices: Using technology and teleconferencing, Project ECHO extends access to best practices, evidence-based guidelines, and the latest advancements in various healthcare fields to a wider audience, overcoming geographical barriers.

    • Building Sustainable Programs: Project ECHO works towards creating sustainable models of education and care delivery, empowering local healthcare providers and communities to continue learning and improving healthcare even after the completion of the program.

      By achieving these goals, Project ECHO aims to create a more integrated and collaborative healthcare system, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, receive high-quality and timely healthcare services.

  • Benefits for Healthcare Professionals:

    • Specialist Knowledge and Training: Healthcare professionals gain access to specialized knowledge and training sessions conducted by experts in cancer and other chronic diseases. This ongoing education helps professionals stay updated on the latest advancements and best practices.

    • Case-Based Learning: Participants present cases from their practice, receiving feedback and guidance from specialists and peers. This interactive learning approach enhances problem-solving skills and improves decision-making in patient care.

    • Increased Confidence and Competence: Exposure to diverse cases and ongoing support from specialists can boost confidence levels among healthcare professionals. This can lead to more competent care delivery in their respective communities.

    • Reduced Professional Isolation: Especially beneficial for healthcare workers in remote or underserved areas, Project ECHO fosters a sense of community and support by connecting them with a network of peers and experts.

    • Capacity Building: Project ECHO helps build the capacity of local healthcare systems by training local providers. This can potentially reduce the need for referrals to specialists and alleviate the burden on tertiary care centers.


    Benefits for Patients:

    • Improved Access to Care: Patients, especially in underserved or remote areas, gain access to high-quality specialty care without having to travel long distances. This reduces barriers to accessing timely and appropriate treatment.

    • Continuity of Care: Local healthcare providers, equipped with specialist knowledge gained through Project ECHO sessions, can provide better ongoing care to patients with cancer and other chronic conditions, ensuring continuity and consistency in treatment.

    • Better Outcomes: Enhanced knowledge and skills among healthcare providers often translate to improved patient outcomes. Cancer patients receive care that aligns with current evidence-based practices, potentially leading to better health outcomes.

    • Reduced Health Disparities: By empowering local healthcare providers with specialized knowledge, Project ECHO contributes to reducing health disparities among different populations, ensuring more equitable access to quality care.

    In summary, Project ECHO benefits healthcare professionals by providing continuous education and support, while patients benefit from improved access to specialized care, leading to better outcomes and reduced healthcare disparities.

  • We request that participants attend regularly scheduled sessions, present a patient case, and complete pre & post session and series surveys.

  • During Project ECHO sessions, cases are presented and discussed in a structured and collaborative manner to facilitate learning and problem-solving among participants. The presentation and discussion of cases typically follow a format that encourages active participation and engagement. Here's an overview of how cases are presented and discussed in Project ECHO sessions:

    Case Presentation:

    • Case Submission: Prior to the session, participants submit de-identified patient cases related to their practice or challenging scenarios they encounter.

    • Case Selection: CCHMC Coordinators select specific cases for presentation during the session, ensuring relevance and diversity in the topics covered.

    • Case Presentation Format: The participant presenting the case provides a brief overview, including relevant patient history, symptoms, diagnostic findings, treatment approaches used or considered, challenges faced, and specific questions or areas needing guidance.

    Interactive Discussion:

    • Feedback and Input: After the case presentation, the session facilitator(s), along with specialist teams and other participants, engage in an interactive discussion.

    • Collaborative Problem-Solving: Participants contribute their perspectives, share experiences, ask questions, and provide suggestions or recommendations for managing the presented case.

    • Evidence-Based Guidance: Specialists offer evidence-based guidance, best practices, and recommendations based on current research, guidelines, and their expertise.

    • Peer Learning: Participants learn from each other’s insights, diverse experiences, and approaches to similar cases, fostering peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.

    Learning Objectives and Teachable Moments:

    • Identifying Learning Objectives: The discussion may revolve around specific learning objectives or key teaching points related to the presented case.

    • Teachable Moments: Facilitators seize opportunities within the case discussion to address broader educational topics, emerging trends, or relevant updates in the field.

    Application of Knowledge:

    • Application to Practice: Participants are encouraged to apply the knowledge gained from the case discussions to their clinical practice, implementing the recommended approaches or strategies discussed.

    Feedback and Follow-Up:

    • Feedback Loop: Participants receive feedback on their case presentations and the discussions, fostering continuous improvement and learning.

    • Follow-Up and Continued Support: There will be opportunities for follow-up discussions and ongoing support for implementing recommendations and addressing challenges encountered in practice.

      Overall, the case presentation and discussion format in Project ECHO sessions emphasize collaborative learning, sharing of expertise, evidence-based guidance, and application of knowledge to improve patient care in diverse healthcare settings.

  • The time commitment for the learners varies across topics, but a session is typically 75-90 minutes. Sessions usually meet once per week for approximately 8 weeks.

  • All our Project ECHO learning is free.

  • Registration opens for each cohort approximately 4 weeks in advance

  • Most of our cohorts and sessions do offer CME / MOC or continuing education credits. Credit for specifically approved licensures. Reference the program page for the program of interest for more details.

  • Learners do not have to attend all the sessions to obtain credit. Some cohorts do encourage an attendance threshold of 75%. However, credits are offered for each session attended. For more details specific to the activity or credit type. Reference the program page for the program of interest for more details.

  • Any healthcare professional who wants to engage around a topic, share their experience and learn from their peers can attend CCHMC Project ECHO. We welcome clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health specialists, social workers, clinical counselors, teachers, early childhood educators, public health practitioners and other allied health professionals.

  • Video Conferencing Platforms: CCHMC Project ECHO sessions will occur via Zoom videoconferencing. This allows for real-time interaction, discussion, and collaboration among participants regardless of their geographic locations.

  • To register to participate in Project ECHO at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, please visit our Programs page.

    Contact us at c2c@CCHMC.org if you have any questions or need additional information.

Still have questions?