UNH is a Project ECHO Hub led by the UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice, NH Citizens Health Initiative. All ECHOs operate through UNH’s Partnership for Academic-Clinical Practice (PACT), which is a partnership between NH Citizens Health Initiative, UNH College of Health and Human Services' academic departments and community partners (dictated by the ECHO topic/session).
The Project ECHO® model is an evidence-based method developed by researchers at the University of New Mexico that links interdisciplinary specialists with community-based practitioners using web conferencing technology. During teleECHO™ sessions, experts mentor and share their expertise across a virtual network via case-based learning, enabling practice teams to manage complex conditions in their own communities.
The UNH Project ECHO Hub will help community-based providers grow their expertise without leaving their practices, and bring much needed services to patients throughout New Hampshire.
UNH Project ECHO Hub Learning Communities
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NH Citizens Health Initiative launched Telehealth for Special Populations During COVID-19 and Beyond on May 13th, 2020. This 4-session pilot ECHO series focuses on implementing telephonic/telehealth care with older adults, pediatric populations, and persons with a substance use disorder with complicating social determinants of health. This is the first ECHO in NH to bring together participants from both primary care practices, community-based social services organizations, mental health and behavioral health practices, family and peer recovery and support, and more. This ECHO is a pilot program for this unique format. Best practices and lessons learned for this approach will be shared. This telepractice learning experience is supported by the Advanced Nursing Education and Workforce Initiative (ANEW), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The NH Citizens Health Initiative’s Pediatric Improvement Partnership (NH PIP) launched the NH Mental Health Care Access in Pediatrics (NHMCAP) ECHO in March 2020. The ECHO increases provider knowledge and confidence in identifying, screening, treating, and effectively referring pediatric patients with mental health concerns. The project also aims to support increased engagement with family and community resources. NHMCAP has 3 ECHO cohorts over 4 years. In addition to monthly ECHO sessions, enrolled providers have access to faculty via bi-monthly teleconsult “office hours.” A statewide referral directory of mental health providers is in development.
UNH's NH Citizens Health Initiative and the Department of Nursing have partnered to develop a Project ECHO learning community around Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT). This learning community is part of the Partnership for Academic-Clinical Telepractice. This ECHO is the first in the world to incorporate family nurse practitioner students as well as integrate the ECHO into Nursing curriculum at the UNH Department of Nursing. Funding is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant.
The Northern New England (NNE) ECHO Collaborative was formed to advance the use of Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) across ME, NH and VT. In partnership with Qualidigm in New England, Vermont Program for Quality Health Care, and the NH Citizen’s Health Initiative received a HRSA Rural Health Network Development Grant to build the Collaborative.
read the planning for project echo in nh summary report
For more information about Project ECHO email unh.projectecho@unh.edu.
