Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a forum for delivering high-quality specialty care to underserved communities. Through monthly Zoom sessions on a variety of specialty care topics, physicians and other care team members connect for didactic presentations and case discussions.
Participants gain insight into specialty care treatment options and increase their capacity to deliver high-quality specialty care. Session participants also receive free Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Join a growing network of physicians sharing expertise and information that supports better patient outcomes in underserved communities.
Choose a topic of interest to register for one or more monthly sessions:
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Ivette Emery, Ph.D., MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR)
- Co-Leader: Kimberly Luebbers, University of Vermont
- Facilitators: Carrie Sullivan, MHIR & Nancy Kaplan, University of Vermont
- ECHO Coordinator: Meredith Oestreicher, ResearchECHO@mainehealth.org
Schedule: Fourth Wednesday of each month 12:00 – 1:00pm
Overview and Learning Objectives: The Clinical Research ECHO will focus on all types of clinical research including investigator-initiated projects. Participants will:
- Develop clinical research skills
- Connect with experienced clinical investigators and research professionals
- Network with Northern New England’s growing community of researchers so that we can learn from each other
Sample Curriculum Topics:
- When does your quality project become research?
- Observational study design 101
- Understanding the IRB review process
- Effective dissemination of research results
Registration: The Clinical Research ECHO is for all investigators in the New England area: new clinician investigators, experienced investigators, and research professionals and support staff.
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Irwin Brodsky, MD
- ECHO Facilitator Alicia Webb, Administrative Assistant II, MHEndoECHO@mainehealth.org
Schedule: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 7:30-8:30 am
Overview: Endo ECHO sessions provide primary care physicians and other clinicians with the opportunity to learn about and discuss a broad range of disorders in the fields of endocrinology and diabetes. Participants will discuss nuanced solutions to commonly-encountered problems, such as methods for choosing the appropriate osteoporosis therapy or methods for using new diabetes drugs and technology in the primary care environment. Complex patient cases will be presented at each session for in-depth discussion by the group.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn new information about treating/managing diabetes and endocrine conditions.
- Participants will learn about criteria for referring or not referring patients with diabetes and endocrine conditions.
- Participants will learn about treatment and management of diabetes and endocrine conditions through actual case examples.
Sample Curriculum Topics:
- Choosing medications for type 2 diabetes
- Therapy of type 1 diabetes, including diabetes technologies
- Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer
- Evaluating hypercalcemia
- Osteoporosis-diagnosis and treatment
Registration: All medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and dietitians, are welcome to attend the Endocrinology ECHO series. We also welcome medical students and other learners as well as registrants from across the United States.
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Heidi Wierman, MD
- ECHO Facilitator: Peter Baker, LCSW, GeriatricsECHO@mainehealth.org
Schedule: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Target Audience: Healthcare providers (physicians, APPs, nurses, social workers, and others) interested in learning about dementia.
Overview: The primary aim of the 2024-2025 Geriatrics Project ECHO series is to enhance the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and support patients living with dementia.
By connecting clinicians who work with individuals affected by dementia, we aim to address the multifaceted challenges of dementia care. Our goal is to improve community-based dementia management by emphasizing evidence-based practices and addressing critical areas such as cognitive decline, depression, and functional impairment. This collaborative effort will not only involve healthcare providers but also integrate community-based organizations, considering social determinants and caregiver support essential for effective dementia care and aging in place.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of dementia in the context of aging and multiple co-morbidities
- Integrate the 4Ms of age-friendly healthcare into dementia care practices
- Recognize and utilize health system and community resources to support healthy aging and dementia management
Planned Curriculum Topics:
- Prevention of Dementia
- Diagnosing Dementia and MCI
- Different Types of Dementia
- Treatment of Dementia
- Non-Pharmacologic approach to Dementia
- Sleep in Dementia
- Agitation and Psychosis
- Caring for the Caregiver & Community Resources
- Safety Considerations
Registration: All medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and social workers, are welcome to attend the Geriatrics ECHO series. We also welcome medical students and other learners as well as registrants from across Maine and Carroll County, NH.
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Megan Selvitelli, MD
- ECHO Facilitator: Jenny Dobson, MD, Neurology Resident neuroecho@mainehealth.org
Schedule: First Tuesday of each month 7:30-8:30am
Overview: The goal of the Adult Neurology ECHO series is to increase primary care providers’ confidence with diagnosis, evaluation and management of commonly seen neurologic disorders. Each session will focus on a different neurologic complaint and provide an opportunity for providers to discuss their own patient cases to garner input from experts in the field.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify organic neurologic disease through neurologic exam and basic accessible testing
- Manage common outpatient neurologic problems with confidence
- Understand basics of chronic or complex neurologic problems or their management that primary care providers may encounter with their patients
- Identify when neurologic consultation is required
Sample Curriculum Topics:
- Migraines
- Visual Disturbances
- Approach to Dizziness
- Management of First Time Seizure
- Tics and Tremors
Registration: All medical professionals are welcome to attend the Neurology ECHO series. We also welcome medical students and other learners as well as registrants from across the United States.
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Peter Aman, MD
- ECHO Admin: Audra Buschagen, Program Manager, audra.buschagen@mainehealth.org
Schedule: 3rd Thursday of each month, 1:00 – 2:00pm
Overview: The goal of the Obesity Project ECHO series is to improve obesity treatment in the primary care setting. Obesity is very common and there are long waitlists to get into the adult specialty program. In light of this, the ECHO program aims to provide primary care with tools to use in their own practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand which medications promote obesity and which medications treat obesity and improving PCP’s comfort in prescribing these medications safely and comfortably.
- Improve comfort with patient first language and decreasing obesity bias in practice setting.
- Increase utilization of Epic Smartsets on obesity evaluation & treatment and e-consults.
- Increase utilization of bariatric surgery as a treatment option for patients who could benefit.
- Improve communication with patients on anticipated outcomes of each of the obesity treatment options (medications, IHBLT, surgery)
Sample Curriculum Topics:
- Early identification and screening of overweight and obesity
- Working with community partners
- Work-up and treatment of co-morbidities
- Talking with patients and families about obesity
- Lifestyle modifications to treat obesity
Registration: All medical professionals, including adult and pediatric obesity treatment providers, nurses, dieticians, mental and behavioral experts, are welcome to attend the Obesity ECHO series. We also welcome medical students and other learners as well as registrants from across Maine and Carroll County, NH.
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Sandra Stevens, MD
- ECHO Facilitator: Peter Baker, LCSW, PalliativeCareECHO@mainehealth.org
Schedule: 1st Thursday of each month, 7:30 - 8:30 am
Overview: The goal of the Palliative Care Project ECHO is to increase access to palliative care knowledge and skills in under-served areas throughout the MaineHealth service area. By exposing primary and specialty care providers to this new sub-specialty, it is hoped that patients and families living with serious illness will achieve the best possible quality of life, consistent with their self-reported goals. An overarching goal is to foster the development of a regional palliative care learning community through:
- Formation of collaborative relationships
- Exploration of interdisciplinary richness
- Sharing of evidence-based and best practices
This new field of practice focuses on living well, in spite of serious and life-limiting illness.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn new information about Palliative Care
- Participants will learn palliative care strategies to support patients
- Participants will gain confidence in identifying and meeting the palliative care needs of patients and their families
Sample Curriculum Topics:
- Sexuality and Intimacy in Serious Illness
- Buprenorphine Use Best Practices
- Suicidality in Serious Illness Patients and Families
- Advanced Cardiac Therapies at End of Life
- Providing Palliative Care to Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Registration: All medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and social workers, are welcome to attend the Palliative Care ECHO series. We also welcome medical students and other learners as well as registrants from across Maine and Carroll County, NH.
ECHO Hub Team:
- Clinical Leader: Kristen Silvia, MD
- ECHO Facilitator: Victoria Hynes, LCSW, Director of SUD System Services, IMATECHO@mainehealth.org or victoria.hynes@mainehealth.org
Schedule: 4th Thursday of each month 12:00-1:00pm
Overview: Through didactic and case-based learning, SUD ECHO sessions focus on the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic evidence-based treatment of patients experiencing Substance Use Disorders. It is open to MaineHealth care team members interested in or providing SUD care across.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn behavioral strategies for working with patients with substance use disorders (SUD)
- Participants will enhance their understanding of using medications (to treat SUD
- Participants will gain an understanding of the various treatment and recovery modalities available to for individuals with SUD.
Sample Curriculum Topics:
- Buprenorphine formulations
- Caring for pregnant people with SUD
- Marijuana and MOUD
- Health screening and vaccination recommendations
- Addressing stigma in the care of people with SUDs
- Contingency management
- Ambulatory Alcohol Withdrawal Management
Registration: All medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and behavioral health clinicians, are welcome to attend the Substance Use Disorders ECHO series. We also welcome medical students and other learners as well as registrants from across Maine and Carroll County, NH.
