In this episode of M.ED, I had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Terry Box. Dr. Box is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Utah Health. Dr. Box completed his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, followed by residency and fellowship at the University of Utah. He is also one of only two hepatologists (liver specialists) who has received his own liver transplant.
He will be speaking to us today about his work with Project ECHO as well as his own experience as a liver transplant recipient.
In 2011, he started Project ECHO at the University of Utah Health. Project ECHO connects community providers with specialists to eliminate barriers to access to specialty care.
Project ECHO addresses these issues by training community providers through HIPPA-compliant, technology-enabled collaborative learning to address specialty care-level health concerns in the primary care setting. Multi-disciplinary specialist teams use videoconferencing technology to conduct weekly or bi-weekly sessions with community providers to discuss specialized health care topics. During these clinics, community providers present patient cases to determine the best treatment options. This case-based learning has shown to improve patient health outcomes and provider confidence in treating both common and complex conditions in their communities.
There is no cost associated with participating, and the only requirements to join an ECHO session are access to a computer or mobile device with connection to the internet. Additionally, there are free Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits available for those who participate.
Please go to https://physicians.utah.edu/echo/ to learn more.
