Penn State Project ECHO Current Topics

Fewer than 10 percent of adolescents in need of substance abuse treatment receive it. Additionally, a barrier to addressing underage drinking is the lack of appropriate screening, intervention and referral for alcohol use among youth.

Penn State Project ECHO is taking steps to equip primary care providers, pediatricians and school nurses with strategies to address underage drinking through the training and delivery of steps collectively referred to as the screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) technique.

The Addressing Underage Alcohol and Substance Use ECHO has been made possible through a grant awarded to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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The Addressing Underage Alcohol and Substance Use ECHO consists of 10 biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to underage drinking and adolescent substance use 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 SBIRT and brief interventions
• Addressing vulnerability during life transitions
• Identifying substance abuse in adolescence
• Adolescent risk factors versus protective factors
• Adolescent progress of substance use
• How alcohol affects human biology
• Referral to psychosocial and medication treatment
• Beyond alcohol: Substance use prevention
• Positive development: Building good habits
• Review of brief interventions

Additionally, pediatricians will present de-identified cases for discussion by the entire group in order to protect patient confidentiality. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to the case discussions. Recommendations are summarized verbally at the conclusion of each case presentation, and forwarded in writing to the participant whose case was discussed.

Health literacy in context of the COVID-19 vaccine is an urgent challenge. With only half of eligible Hispanics in the city of Reading having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine, the city is at high risk for experiencing disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. An effective approach to improving health literacy requires a community-centric approach to create a systems-focused peer reviewed program that can be effortlessly integrated into health systems already fatigued due to the pandemic.

This series will focus on training Community Health Workers to conduct Health Literacy assessments of local health systems, providing reports and supportive resources to improve to health literacy within health care and community organizations and conducting rapid-cycle quality improvement initiatives.

The Advancing Health Literacy for Community Health Workers ECHO consists of four biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Advancing Health Literacy for Community Health Workers 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:

• Fundamentals
• Universal Precautions
• Effective Communication
• Teach Back
• Digital Health Literacy
• Systems, Wayfinding and Navigation

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a set of clinically and genetically heterogeneous heritable disorders of connective tissue with high disease burden and complex, overlapping comorbidities that are challenging for practitioners to manage.

Primary-care physicians with expertise in treating Ehlers-Danlos are difficult to find, and specialists have long wait lists.

To address this problem, Project ECHO launched the first ECHO sessions in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes in September 2019. The program is a series of 12 ECHO sessions over the course of the year. CME credits are offered to participants.

This is a research-based ECHO with a goal of increasing treatment capacity by addressing research gaps.

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The HPV Vaccine Communication ECHO is for pediatricians and family medicine providers who are interested in increasing HPV vaccination rates in their clinics. This six-session ECHO series provides health care providers training on communication best practices and evidence-based strategies for improving HPV vaccination among adolescents, especially those with vaccine-hesitant parents. Its goal is to reduce HPV-related cancers and diseases in Pennsylvania.

Sessions will be delivered by a group of HPV vaccine specialists, including experienced health care providers and health communication experts. Sessions include short didactic presentations and case presentations, so participants gain confidence and competence in recommending HPV vaccination and communicating to families the importance of HPV vaccination.

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The HPV Vaccine Communication ECHO consists of six one-hour sessions; free continuing education credits will be provided to attendees.

Each session will begin with participant introductions, followed by a brief presentation on a topic related to patient and family communication strategies for increasing HPV vaccination.

The formal presentation curriculum for the sessions in this program was developed by Penn State Project ECHO’s specialist team, using evidence-based resources, to provide a thorough introduction to HPV vaccine communication best practices.

Topics include:

• Evidence for HPV vaccination
• Cancer prevention through HPV vaccination
• Making strong recommendations for HPV vaccination
• Communicating with vaccine-hesitant parents
• Answering parent questions and concerns about HPV vaccination (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Practice-level interventions for HPV vaccination
• Team-based communication approaches

Additionally, participants will present de-identified cases for discussion by the entire group. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to case discussions. Recommendations are summarized verbally after each case presentation, and forwarded in writing to the health care provider whose case was discussed.

All patients have the right to high-quality, patient-centered health care that is equal and unbiased. Creating an inclusive environment in which health care conversations are more comfortable for all patients is important. This series is focused on helping health care providers meet the complex social, emotional and physical health care needs of their patients within a supportive and safe environment.

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Current topics include:

• Sex, Sexuality, Gender
• Sexual Health
• Gender Affirming Medication
• Suicide/Self Harm
• Stress and Resilience
• Health Disparities
• Trauma
• Intersex

Additionally, participants will present de-identified patient cases for discussion by 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 health care provider whose case was discussed.

The Managing Medical Student Mental Health ECHO is designed to empower medical students to manage a wide range of patient mental health conditions to improve overall patient care.

The Managing Medical Student Mental Health ECHO consists of ten biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Managing Medical Student Mental Health 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:

• Suicide Risk
• Starting & Switching Antidepressants
• Psychotropic Medications
• Delirium
• ADHD & Autism
• Behavioral Disturbances in Children
• Decision Making Capacity

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 13 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

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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The Project Reassure: Adult Neurodiversity ECHO is designed for providers from agencies serving adults with autism.

This series addresses issues and behavioral strategies for these conditions and also includes brief lectures covering topics of interest to the ECHO group, such as clinical features of ASD, managing common co-occurring conditions and promoting self-advocacy.

In addition, the main thrust of the sessions will come from participants who will present de-identified cases to each other and the specialist team in order to gain confidence and competence in providing direct supports to adults with ASD.

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These ECHO sessions occur every other week, with 12 sessions in total. Each one-hour session begins with participant introductions, followed by a brief presentation on a topic related to the care of adults with autism spectrum disorder.

The formal presentation curriculum for the sessions in this program was developed by Penn State Project ECHO’s specialist team to provide a thorough introduction to treatment and care. Topics include:

• Clinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults (Part A)
• Clinical features of ASD in adults (Part B)
• Co-occurring physical conditions
• Co-occurring mental health conditions
• Behaviors
• Managing behaviors
• Promoting activities of daily living
• Identifying individual and family supports
• Promoting healthy relationships (Part A)
• Promoting healthy relationships (Part B)
• Barriers to community participation
• Promoting self-advocacy

Additionally, agency participants present de-identified patient cases for discussion by the entire group in order to protect patient confidentiality. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively to the case discussions. Recommendations are summarized verbally at the conclusion of each case presentation, and forwarded in writing to the health care provider whose case was discussed.

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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Adolescents with poor mental health struggle with school, grades and decision making, and are at increased risk of substance use. When teachers provide clear and consistent expectations for behavior in the classroom, and take actions to promote positive behaviors, students report a stronger sense of connectedness to school and their peers. Connected and engaged students have more positive academic outcomes and are less likely to display behaviors such as substance use, violence and suicide.

The Student Mental Health in Secondary Schools ECHO consists of twelve biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Student Mental Health in Secondary Schools 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:

• High-Risk Populations
• ADHD
• Coping Skills
• Anxiety Disorder
• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Behavior Management
• Depression Disorder
• Social/Emotional Learning

Working in partnership, Project ECHO at Penn State College of Medicine and the Immune Deficiency Foundation plan will equip key community partners with the necessary knowledge to navigate patient diagnosis, treatment, and emotional wellbeing. This series will help increase the levels of knowledge, awareness, and confidence of clinicians and advanced practitioners in identifying, diagnosing, and appropriately treating Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) as assessed in pre- and post-educational evaluations.

The Understanding Primary Immunodeficiency for Clinicians ECHO consists of ten biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Understanding Primary Immunodeficiency for Clinicians 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:

• Immune system basics
• Signs and symptoms
• Diagnosing
• Communication best practices
• Treatments
• Addressing social determinants

Working in partnership, Project ECHO at Penn State College of Medicine and the Immune Deficiency Foundation plan will equip key community partners with the necessary knowledge to navigate patient diagnosis, treatment, and emotional wellbeing. This series will help increase the levels of knowledge, awareness, and confidence of clinicians and advanced practitioners in identifying, diagnosing, and appropriately treating Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) as assessed in pre- and post-educational evaluations.

The Understanding Primary Immunodeficiency for Clinicians ECHO consists of ten biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Understanding Primary Immunodeficiency for Clinicians 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:

• Immune system basics
• Signs and symptoms
• Diagnosing
• Communication best practices
• Treatments
• Addressing social determinants

Vaccine hesitancy poses a risk in our communities as we approach cold and flu season. Despite the benefits, flu vaccine coverage in Hispanic adults, children and pregnant persons remains lower than pre-pandemic coverage. Culture-centered COVID-19 vaccine-related health promotion is key in reducing health inequities and disparities in Hispanic mothers and children as well as the larger community.

This series will equip service providers of vulnerable populations with strategies to appropriately and confidently answer questions and provide trustworthy information about the safety and mechanisms of the vaccines.

The Vaccine Communication for DPP Service Providers ECHO consists of four biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Vaccine Communication for DPP Service Providers 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:

• Community resources
• Safety Concerns
• Common misunderstandings
• Addressing client questions

Vaccine hesitancy poses a risk in our communities as we approach cold and flu season. Despite the benefits, flu vaccine coverage in Hispanic adults, children and pregnant persons remains lower than pre-pandemic coverage. Culture-centered COVID-19 vaccine-related health promotion is key in reducing health inequities and disparities in Hispanic mothers and children as well as the larger community.

This series will equip service providers of vulnerable populations with strategies to appropriately and confidently answer questions and provide trustworthy information about the safety and mechanisms of the vaccines.

The Vaccine Communication for WIC Service Providers ECHO consists of four biweekly, hour-long sessions.

A brief presentation on a topic related to Vaccine Communication for WIC Service Providers 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:

• Community resources
• Safety Concerns
• Common misunderstandings
• Addressing client questions