Penn State Project ECHO Current Topics

The 4Ms of Age-and Dementia-Friendly Care seeks to enroll providers who are interested in improving health outcomes for patients in a rural health care setting facing challenges related to age and dementia. Care for older adults can become more complex, and they risk suffering harm while in the health system.

Providing a reliable system to train health care providers in caring for older patients and those with dementia has important implications for individuals and is a critical health care need. The 4Ms of Age-and Dementia-Friendly Care ECHO provides an innovative and evidence-based approach to increasing high-quality care for patients by bringing together specialists and non-specialists using a web-based platform to improve care for patients in the communities where they live and work.

Sessions will be delivered by a group of multi-disciplinary specialists from Penn State College of Nursing and The Primary Health Network. Sessions include short didactic and case presentations so participants gain confidence and competence in providing age- and dementia-friendly care for their patients.

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The 4Ms of Age-and Dementia-Friendly Care ECHO consists of 10 one-hour sessions; free continuing education credits will be provided to attendees.

Each session begins with participant introductions, followed by a brief presentation on a topic related to the 4Ms of age- and dementia-friendly care (what matters, medication, mentation and mobility).

The formal presentation curriculum for the sessions in this program was developed by Penn State College of Nursing faculty using evidence-based resources and the latest research findings.

Topics include:

• Overview of the 4Ms and goals/preferences
• Age-friendly medications
• Mentation
• Mobility
• What matters: End-of-life care
• COVID-19 vaccination plans
• Climate adaptation for older adults
• Dementia in primary care
• Caring for LGBTQ+ individuals
• Loneliness and social isolation
• Talking to patients about deprescribing

Participants can present de-identified cases for consideration and 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 provider whose case was discussed.

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.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is one of the largest health crises of this generation. While there are a variety of therapies to manage these conditions, treatment has been out of reach for many patients due to the lack of healthcare professionals trained to treat SUD in rural communities. This series will provide participants with the best practices in the treatment and care of patients with substance use disorder to improve provider knowledge and confidence.

The formal presentation curriculum for the sessions in this program was developed by the specialist team, using evidence-based resources to provide thorough guidance on addiction medicine.

Current topics include:

• Tobacco
• AUD
• Cannabis
• Stimulants
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Benzodiazepines
• Brief Psychosocial Interventions for SUDs

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 Fostering Resilience for Neurodiverse Communities 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.

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.

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

For some people, mobile health clinics are the only means to lifesaving medical treatment. For many, access to affordable care may not be possible without mobile clinic services. Project ECHO at Penn State, in partnership with Evangelical Community Hospital and the Mobile Healthcare Association, is launching a learning collaborative focused on mobile health best practices that meet the complex social, emotional and physical health care needs of our communities. This network aims to connect mobile healthcare providers across the Commonwealth. Together, they will discuss best practices and lessons learned in mobile healthcare delivery.

The formal presentation curriculum for the sessions in this program was developed by the specialist team.

Current topics include:

• Mammography
• Vaccination Initiatives
• Outreach in Urban Locations
• Startup Lessons Learned
• Laboratory Logistics and Needs
• Amish/Mennonite Communities
• Strengths and Challenges in Rural Communities

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 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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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