© 2022 All rights reserved
Rutgers Project ECHO is administered by Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with generous support from NJ Department of Health, NJ Department Human Services, and other funders.
During a Project ECHO™ clinic, using multi-point video technology, primary care providers in multiple locations present patient cases to a multidisciplinary team of specialists and discuss treatment options and recommendations. These case-based discussions are supplemented with short, expert-led presentations to improve content knowledge and share evidence-based best practices. The specialists serve as mentors, training the primary care providers in clinical areas that expand their expertise and knowledge of treatment and services to support their patients. Over time, the primary care providers operate with increased independence as their skills and self-efficacy grow. Providers also receive free CME credits for each Project ECHO clinic attended.
Project ECHO clinics last one hour and are scheduled early in the morning or at lunch to provide as little disruption as possible to clinic hours. Participating in Project ECHO from the office or health center, utilizing simple technology available on a computer with internet access and a camera, reduces the challenge of participation.
Providers who service the vulnerable populations in the state of New Jersey are the first priority for participation in the Project ECHO clinics. Typically, practice participants include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, counselors, agencies, etc.
Participation in Project ECHO clinics is free. The only associated costs are those for IT equipment (if needed) and time away from clinic hours. Most clinics already possess the required IT equipment to connect via video (internet and webcam), so no additional costs are incurred. The only associated commitment is attendance at 6 sessions over the course of a 12-session series.
The technology can be as simple as using a laptop, a handheld mobile device, a small room set up for one or two people, or a videoconferencing room to allow the participation of groups. We utilize a cloud-based system called Zoom (http://zoom.us). This system has a number of benefits, including the ability to run on lower-speed internet connections. Zoom works well on mobile devices such as iPhones, iPads and Androids, requires no appliances, and has web-conferencing features like chat and sharing. Rutgers ECHO will assist each practice with setting up Zoom and preparing for participation in the Project ECHO clinics.
Participants who join Project ECHO clinics receive continuing education credits for each of the 60-minute clinic sessions they participate in for the full time. All CEs from participation in Project ECHO clinics are given free of charge once submission of the post-session survey is complete. Email the Program Coordinator for Rutgers Project ECHO directly for more information at Afigueroa@rwjms.rutgers.edu.
“We, unfortunately, are unable to offer CE credits for our Community Health Workers (CHW), and the COVID-19 Project ECHO sessions.”
All CE credits are distributed at the end of the entire series. All CME’s are distributed by the Department of Continuing Education. You will need to fill out a post-session survey each session you attend in order to claim your CE’s. Once the series has been completed and closed out by the DOCE you will receive your credits.
“We, unfortunately, are unable to offer CE credits for our Community Health Workers (CHW), and the COVID-19 Project ECHO sessions.”
Credit Designation
“We, unfortunately, are unable to offer CE credits for our Community Health Workers (CHW), Nursing Home, and the COVID-19 Project ECHO sessions.”
The ECHO model improves health outcomes for patients while bolstering patient retention and satisfaction by improving access to care within the primary care setting for conditions that otherwise might have required a referral. With ECHO, patients with a wide range of chronic, complex conditions can be treated close to home, without waiting months for an appointment. The ECHO model has demonstrated that when patients are treated in their local communities, by providers they know and trust, it enhances their adherence to treatment and follow-up care.[1] Expert consultations between providers and academic specialists also directly impact the health of patients, who benefit from the provider’s increased knowledge of best practices.
[1] Sanjeev Arora, MD, Karla Thornton, MD, Glen Murata, MD, et al. “Outcomes of Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection by Primary Care Providers.” New England Journal of Medicine. June 9, 2011.
Project ECHO is a powerful tool in recruiting and retaining providers. Both in rural and urban areas, health center providers often feel professionally isolated. ECHO is a major selling point for providers, as it allows for professional development, continuing education credits, and access to a knowledge network of peers and experts. Providers participate in the ECHO model first and foremost to help their patients, and the model increases their capacity to do so. Increased provider satisfaction often results in greater provider retention.
You can learn more about Project ECHO by contacting the Rutgers Project ECHO Program Administrators directly Ashley Figueroa at anf46@rwjms.rutgers.edu, Amy Fisher at amy.fisher1@rutgers.edu and Ruben Nanez at ruben.nanez@rutgers.edu .
We maintain a standing open clinics list and will help you connect with the appropriate contact for the Project ECHO clinic(s) you are interested in.
The ECHO model is not “traditional telemedicine,” where the specialist assumes care of the patient, but instead is a guided practice model where the primary care provider retains responsibility for managing the patient with the support of a team of specialists. This model creates a collaborative environment for lifelong medical learning and sharing of information among providers on best practice treatment for patients with a specific set of complex chronic diseases and conditions. The ECHO model enables people in medically underserved areas, rural or urban, to receive the care they need where they live, from providers they know, with the support and mentoring of experts in the field.
What are the incentives?
A $30 Amazon Gift Card for each of the following completed surveys of Rutgers Project ECHO: 6-session, and/or case presenter survey completed after January 27, 2020.
Who is eligible to earn incentives?
Participants of the following Rutgers Project ECHO clinics: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Complex Endocrinology (Endo), Substance Use Disorders (SUD), Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome/Substance-exposed Infants (NAS/SEI), and, Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid Use Disorders (OUD).
Why are incentives being offered?
To increase the number of evaluation participants in Rutgers Project ECHO 6-session and case presenter surveys. It is vital for the sustainability of the program to produce strong outcomes data that show participant impact.
When do I earn incentives?
Incentives are issued after the completion of the following surveys:
Can I earn multiple incentives?
Yes. Participants are eligible to earn multiple incentives for completing 6-session, and/or case presenter surveys for each Rutgers Project ECHO series they attend.
What if I already completed a baseline, 6-session survey, and/or case presenter survey between 2016-2019?
Unfortunately, incentives cannot be applied retroactively, so all surveys completed between 6/1/16 and 1/26/20 are not eligible for incentives. For specific time periods of eligibility, see below:
I just completed a survey, when should I expect to receive the incentive?
A code will be issued in an email from the Clinic Coordinator
How do I redeem the incentive?
When you receive the Amazon Gift Card code in your email, you can enter it into Amazon to redeem. For specific instructions on how to redeem a code, click here. To read Amazon Gift Cards Terms & Conditions, click here. Please note, Amazon Gift Cards do not expire and are participant specific.
Who should I contact if I have any additional questions/concerns about the incentives?
Reach out to our Clinic Coordinator for more assistance: Ashley Figueroa, anf46@rwjms.rutgers.edu, (732) 881-0502.
© 2022 All rights reserved
Rutgers Project ECHO is administered by Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School with generous support from NJ Department of Health, NJ Department Human Services, and other funders.