Penn State Project ECHO Current Topics

Are you interested in:

• Learning the newest developments in treatments?
• Exchanging knowledge with experts and peers?
• Exploring the role of primary care to treat complex, medical scenarios?

Growing a learning community to champion primary care providers.

Join this innovative, CME-eligible, virtual program to learn about trending topics and receive timely information to expand the scope of your primary care practice. Held monthly, this “all teach, all learn” community offers clinicians the opportunity to:

• Join a supportive network of primary care providers regardless of your location.
• Improve access to information, especially if you are in a low resource area.
• Receive expert insight to treat advanced or specialized conditions in your patients.
• Explore the role of primary care to treat a variety of medical scenarios.

Connecting providers across communities.

Primary care providers in rural and high need communities are experiencing unprecedented barriers in accessing health care resources.

In a survey, clinicians identified practical and timely information sharing through a multi-disciplinary network of specialists as an impactful way to uplift primary health care in limited access areas.

In response, this advanced learning, CME-eligible, virtual program is designed to support primary care providers wherever they and covers diagnosis and/or treatments such as:

• Congestive Heart Failure
• Migraines
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Skin Cancer
• Beyond Statins
• GLP-1 Agonist
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Bipolar Disorder
• Osteoporosis
• Advanced Knee Exam

Schedule

• Nine virtual sessions.
• Program runs September 12, 2024, through May 22, 2025.
• 2024 sessions held the 2^nd Thursday of the month.
• 2025 sessions held the 4^th Thursday of the month.
• All sessions occur 12-1 p.m.

Registration

Registration is rolling – there is no registration deadline.

• Register one-time to access all sessions.
• Attend as your schedule allows.

Register now

The Advancements in Health Care Delivery for Primary Care ECHO is an all-virtual program for clinicians.  No travel required. Registration is on a rolling basis. Register one-time to access all sessions. Attend as your schedule allows.

9 Monthly Sessions

• September 12, 2024 – May 22, 2025
• All sessions held 12-1 p.m.
• Free continuing education credits are available to participants

The formal presentation curriculum is developed by the specialist team. Topics include:

• Beyond Statins for Lipid Lowering
• Advanced Elements of the Knee Exam & Options for Injection Therapies
• Diagnosing & Initiating Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer for Non-Dermatologists
• Update on GLP-1 Agonist Use for Obesity, Diabetes, & Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
• Diagnosing & Initiating Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
• New Congestive Heart Failure Treatment Guidelines
• Newer Options for Treating & Preventing Migraines
• Managing Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause

Participants can present de-identified patient cases for discussion with the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to case discussions.

• Recommendations are summarized verbally after each case presentation and forwarded to the participant whose case was discussed.

Offering strategies & guidance for clinicians.

Comprehensive telementoring program designed to equip clinicians with the tools and knowledge necessary to manage Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients.

• No-cost
• CME-eligible
• virtual program

Interactive, case-based learning and expert guidance help participants:

• Gain insight into factors contributing to health disparities specific to CF.
• Receive information on the latest advances in CF treatment.
• Learn about telemedicine as a solution to address access issues in CF patient care.
• Review strategies to support CF patient caregivers, provide patient-centered care, and educate staff on developing cultural competence.

An all teach all learn model enables healthcare providers to increase their knowledge base and provide the best care for AD patients.

Educational Objectives

• Identify indicators of health disparities specific to CF, allowing for more proactive and targeted interventions.
• Evaluate the historical and contemporary misperceptions associating CF exclusively with individuals of White Northern European descent.
• Report the latest advancements in CF treatment through the critical analysis of clinical trial data, ensuring HCPs stay abreast of evolving therapeutic options.
• Discuss and use multidisciplinary management plans that address the unique challenges faced by patients with CF who are experiencing health care disparities.
• Develop cultural competence to provide inclusive, patient-centered care that acknowledges and respects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of individuals with CF, irrespective of race.
• Implement telemedicine and telementoring, enabling those being mentored to receive personalized guidance on sophisticated, multidisciplinary approaches aimed at effectively addressing access issues in CF patient care.

Schedule

• Four virtual sessions.
• Program runs October 1 – November 12, 2024.
• Held every other Tuesday.
• All sessions occur 2-3 p.m.

Registration

Registration is rolling – there is no registration deadline.

• Register one-time to access all sessions.
• Attend as your schedule allows.

Register Now

Advancing Cystic Fibrosis: Disparities & Patient Centered Care ECHO is an all-virtual program for clinicians.  No travel required. Registration is on a rolling basis. Register one-time to access all sessions. Attend as your schedule allows.

4 Biweekly Sessions

• October 1, 2024 – November 12, 2024
• All sessions held every other Tuesday, 2-3 p.m.
• Free continuing education credits are available to participants

The formal presentation curriculum is developed by the specialist team. Topics include:

• Overview of Cystic Fibrosis & Recognizing Health Disparities in its Care
• Staying Informed — Analyzing Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Advances
• Leveraging Telemedicine for Accessible Cystic Fibrosis Care
• Caregiver Support, Patient Care, & Cultural Competence Education

Participants can present de-identified patient cases for discussion with the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to case discussions.

• Recommendations are summarized verbally after each case presentation and forwarded to the participant whose case was discussed.

Early detection and enhanced care strategies for general practitioners.

Comprehensive telementoring program designed to equip primary care providers with the tools and knowledge necessary to manage Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients.

• No-cost
• CME-eligible
• virtual program

Interactive, case-based learning and expert guidance, help participants:

• Understand the devastating impact of delayed AD diagnosis.
• Develop strategies to address the challenges posed by specialist shortages.
• Master the mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety of disease-modifying therapies.

An all teach all learn model enables healthcare providers to increase their knowledge base and provide the best care for AD patients.

Educational Objectives

• Summarize the adverse effects of delayed AD diagnosis, particularly in underserved areas, on patients and their families.
• Discuss how to utilize biomarkers in the early diagnosis of AD to provide more accurate and timely assessments.
• Assess the challenges posed by the shortage of specialists in both urban and rural settings.
• Utilize tele-mentoring for AD diagnosis with the goal of reducing patient waiting times and improving caregiver support.
• Review emotional, physical, and financial burdens faced by caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients in rural areas.
• Review of the mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety data for disease-modifying therapies currently approved or in development for AD.

Schedule

• Six virtual sessions.
• Program runs September 11 – November 20, 2024.
• Held every other Thursday.
• All sessions occur 10-11 a.m.

Registration

Registration is rolling – there is no registration deadline.

• Register one-time to access all sessions.
• Attend as your schedule allows.

Register Now

The Building Capacity in Alzheimer’s Disease ECHO is an all-virtual program for clinicians.  No travel required. Registration is on a rolling basis. Register one-time to access all sessions. Attend as your schedule allows.

6 Bimonthly Sessions

• September 11, 2024 – November 20, 2024
• All sessions held every other Thursday, 10-11 a.m.
• Free continuing education credits are available to participants

The formal presentation curriculum is developed by the specialist team. Topics include:

• Racing Against the Clock: Why Early Diagnosis Matters in Alzheimer’s Disease
• The Role of Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease
• Specialist Shortages and Alzheimer’s Disease Care in Rural and Urban Areas
• Reaching Community Physicians with Innovative Digital Solutions
• Finding Solutions for Rural Caregivers
• New Disease Modifying Therapies

Participants can present de-identified patient cases for discussion with the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to case discussions.

• Recommendations are summarized verbally after each case presentation and forwarded to the participant whose case was discussed.

Unfortunately, substance use and overdose deaths are expected to rise as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This virtual series aims to provide the knowledge, support and resources necessary to increase the capacity and confidence of primary care providers to effectively practice using medication for opioid use disorder. Together, experts and providers will collaborate to discuss patient cases and develop recommendations for care.

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The Medication for Opioid Use Disorder ECHO consists of 12 biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder will be given within the last 15 minutes of each session.

The formal presentation curriculum for the sessions in this program was developed by Penn State Project ECHO’s specialist team. Topics include:

• Introduction to opioid use disorder
• Medication for opioid use disorder
• Peer recovery support services
• Co-occurring mental health
• Introduction to motivational interviewing
• Risk reductions and safe use of opioids
• Adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorder/adverse childhood experiences and addiction
• COVID and opioid use disorder
• Perioperative management of the opioid dependent patient
• Evidence-based screening and SBIRT (screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment)
• Co-occurring physical health of opioid use disorder/Hepatitis C
• Opioid use disorder in the emergency department
• Pregnancy/post-partum care

From diagnosis to treatment, handling pediatric hematological and oncological patients requires an integrative approach. Pediatricians in this area often have dual roles as they care for patients and guide families to educational resources.

This program aims to:

• Increase the knowledge-base and comfort for pediatricians managing patients with a variety of hematological disorders.
• Reinforces the multidisciplinary model necessary to provide the best care for these complex patients.

Together, experts and providers collaborate to discuss de-identified patient cases and develop recommendations for care. Covered topics may include the following or similar concepts:

• Newborn screening
• Bleeding disorders
• Iron deficiency
• Heavy menstruation
• Thrombotic conditions
• Sickle Cell disease
• Neutropenia
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura

Schedule

• Eight virtual sessions.
• Program runs July 17, 2024 – February 19, 2025.
• Held the 3^rd Wednesday of the month.
• All sessions occur 8-9 a.m.

                 Registration

Registration is rolling – there is no registration deadline.

• Register one-time to access all sessions.
• Attend as your schedule allows.

Register Now

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology for Pediatricians ECHO is an all-virtual program for clinicians.  No travel required. Registration is on a rolling basis. Register one-time to access all sessions. Attend as your schedule allows.

8 Monthly Sessions

• July 17, 2024 – February 19, 2025
• All sessions held the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, 8-9 a.m.
• Free continuing education credits are available to participants

The formal presentation curriculum is developed by the specialist team. Topics include:

• Newborn Screening and Hemoglobinopathies
• Bleeding Disorders
• Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Evaluation of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
• Thrombotic Conditions
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura
• Neutropenia

Participants can present de-identified patient cases for discussion with the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to case discussions.

Recommendations are summarized verbally after each case presentation and forwarded to the participant whose case was discussed.

Community health workers (CHW) are integral in linking communities to health care and public health resources. Research has shown CHWs can reduce health disparities, expand access to coverage and care, improve care quality, increase health care cultural competence, and contain costs.

This ECHO series seeks to train CHWs in an effort to strengthen Pennsylvania’s public health infrastructure and improve community health outcomes, particularly for subpopulations that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pennsylvania AHEC Community Health Worker series launched on October 20, 2021, from 9 to 10 a.m. There will be a total of twelve, monthly 1-hour sessions.

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This series seeks to empower nursing facility administration and staff to improve health outcomes for residents facing challenges related to age-friendly care. Care for older adults can become more complex and they risk suffering harm while in long-term care. Providing a reliable system to train staff in caring for older patients has important implications for individuals and is a critical need.

The Long-Term Care RISE ECHO provides an innovative and evidence-based approach to increasing high-quality care for residents by bringing together specialists and non-specialists to improve care for residents in the communities where they live.

This series is only open to nursing facilities located in the southcentral RISE program region of Pennsylvania, and will launch on March 3, 2022, with weekly sessions taking place on Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m.

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Transforming workplace perspectives on addiction.

Destigmatizing recovery from substance use disorders helps employers to:

• Improve employee well-being.
• Decrease employee turnover.
• Increase workplace productivity.
• Reduce healthcare costs.

Nurturing a recovery-friendly workplace

Join this uplifting virtual program to learn about the advantages of supporting employees who are overcoming substance use disorder.

Supporting recovery in the workplace sets companies and employees up for success. Through education and training, employers have the power to normalize the recovery journey for affected employees, shatter the stigma they often experience and boost overall workplace health.

Tools to empower employers

Bi-monthly, virtual sessions provide employers guidance on:

• Reducing workplace stigma in support of substance use recovery.
• Strategies for preventing terminations due to manageable relapses.

Session topics may include:

• Recovery stories
• PA CareerLink services
• Drug screenings
• Recovery-friendly workplaces
• Hiring & HR policies
• Methadone & levels of recovery
• Stigma & bias
• Medication assisted treatment concerns

Schedule

• Eight virtual sessions.
• Program runs September 10, 2024 – December 17, 2024.
• Held alternating Tuesdays.
• All sessions occur 8-9 a.m.

Registration

Registration is rolling – there is no registration deadline.

• Register one-time to access all sessions.
• Attend as your schedule allows.

Register Now

Shatter the Stigma: Supporting Recovery in the Workplace ECHO is an all-virtual program for employers held in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.  No travel required. Registration is on a rolling basis. Register one-time to access all sessions. Attend as your schedule allows.

8 Monthly Sessions

• July 17, 2024 – February 19, 2025
• All sessions held the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, 8-9 a.m.

The formal presentation curriculum is developed by the specialist team. Topics include:

• Recovery Story
• Concerns with Medication Assisted Treatment
• Drug Screens
• Methadone & Levels of Recovery
• Hiring do’s & don’ts and HR Policies
• Recovery-Friendly Workplaces
• PA CareerLink® Services
• Stigma & Bias

Participants can present scenarios for discussion with the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to scenario discussions.

• Recommendations are summarized verbally after each scenario presentation and forwarded to the participant whose scenario was discussed.

This no-cost, virtual program hosted in partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning introduces early childhood providers to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” initiative.

Milestones Matter!

“Learn the Signs. Act Early.” helps early childhood providers:

• Identify healthy development.
• Monitor every child’s development.
• Take action when there’s a concern.

Designed for early childhood providers, this program helps participants learn about:

• Free resources for providers that support families of young children.
• Support for Spanish-speaking families.
• Guidance on culturally and linguistically responsive services.

Bi-weekly, no-cost, virtual sessions also offer early childhood providers CDC guidance on:

• Engaging Spanish-speaking families.
• Strategies for developmental monitoring.
• Mentoring and supporting families.

Schedule

• Six virtual sessions.
• Program runs September 25 – December 4, 2024.
• Held every other Wednesday.
• All sessions occur 10-11 a.m.

Registration

Registration is rolling – there is no registration deadline.

• Register one-time to access all sessions.
• Attend as your schedule allows.

Register Now

Supporting Children’s Early Development ECHO is an all-virtual program for employers held in partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning.  No travel required. Registration is on a rolling basis. Register one-time to access all sessions. Attend as your schedule allows.

6 Biweekly Sessions

• September 25, 2024 – December 4, 2024
• All sessions held the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, 10-11 a.m.

The formal presentation curriculum is developed by the specialist team. Topics include:

• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Tools and Resources
• Introduction to Family-Engaged Developmental Monitoring
• Challenges, Successes, and the Importance of Developmental Monitoring
• Importance of Social/Emotional Learning
• Developing Connections and Support Systems
• Lived Experience: One Family’s Story

Participants can present scenarios for discussion with the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to scenario discussions.

• Recommendations are summarized verbally after each scenario presentation and forwarded to the participant whose scenario was discussed.