The IUPUI ECHO Center at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health has launched a new program: the University of Southern Indiana (USI) Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) ECHO. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an evidence-based model that virtually connects an interdisciplinary community of clinical providers and leaders in health. The ECHO movement aims to spread knowledge and amplify local capacity to increase access to best practice care for complex chronic health conditions and reduce health disparities.
A core tenant of ECHO is to provide high-quality care close to home, especially in rural and underserved communities. To achieve this goal, experienced mentors and local primary care providers meet regularly during ECHOs to share resources and recommendations to improve patient outcomes.
ECHO programs are implemented at numerous universities across the country, and the University of Southern Indiana is now proud to announce that on March 14, 2023, the GWEP launched their participation in ECHO. The program works to enhance the health outcomes of older adults living with dementia through training and support for direct service care providers in skilled nursing facilities across Indiana. The USI GWEP ECHO is hosted by the IUPUI ECHO Center and content is developed in partnership with Teepa Snow and her Positive Approach to Care team.
The USI GWEP ECHO has a variety of sessions planned that cover such timely topics:
- The Art of Patient-Centered Care: Appreciating the Importance of Permission;
- Challenging Care Situations: Intimate Care with Dementia; and,
- End of Life Dementia with Pain, Movement, and Discomfort.
All sessions will be held via Zoom from 2 to 3 p.m. CST. Recordings will be made available in the ECHO resource library for those who register for the program.
This program also offers a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits at no cost through the Indiana University School of Medicine Division of Continuing Education in Healthcare Professions. Health Facility Administrator CEUs will also be freely available.
Those who are interested are invited to register for the program at this link.
