Impact of Project ECHO on Patient and Community Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Academic Medicine (05/24/2022) Osei-Twum, Jo-Ann; Wiles, Brittany; Killackey, Tieghan; et al.

A scoping review of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) examined the effect of such programs on patient and community health. A database search yielded 15 relevant English-language, peer-reviewed articles published between January 2003 and June 2020. They documented bibliographical information and study characteristics via a standardized data extraction form guided by Moore's continuing medical education evaluation framework. The programs detailed in the studies included 14 conducted in the United States and one in Australia. The programs facilitated education sessions with healthcare providers treating adult patients living with one of seven medical conditions: hepatitis C/chronic liver conditions, geriatric mental health/dementia, chronic pain, complex medical conditions, diabetes, hospital discharge of older adults and multiple sclerosis. Overall, the findings indicated the Project ECHO programs substantially changed patient-level outcomes, while one suggested they moderately impacted community-level outcomes. The studies noted changes in care at the individual patient level, the practice level and in objective clinical measures like sustained virologic response, blood glucose levels and hospitalization rates. According to the authors, the findings warrant further investigation into how widespread Project ECHO adoption affects patient health and healthcare use.

Read More