Innovative COVID-19 Programs to Rapidly Serve New Mexico : Project ECHO.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Telemedicine
• Healthcare Education

Background:

• Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) utilizes videoconferencing to connect healthcare providers in underserved areas with experts.
• In March 2020, Project ECHO launched 10 COVID-19 telementoring programs to address immediate public health needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reach and impact of Project ECHO's COVID-19 telementoring programs in New Mexico.
• To assess the role of telementoring in building professional communities and meeting educational needs during a public health crisis.

Main Methods:

• Established 10 COVID-19 telementoring programs (7 weekly, 3 special sessions) from March to May 2020.
• Collected data on attendee numbers, professions (where available), and geographic reach (counties).
• Correlated program participation with county-level COVID-19 infection data.

Main Results:

• 9,765 healthcare and education professionals participated from 89% of New Mexico counties.
• Programs included diverse sessions like Critical Care, Infectious Disease, and Community Health Worker support.
• Participants formed professional communities and networks, meeting educational and professional needs.

Conclusions:

• Project ECHO's rapid telementoring effectively reached a large, interprofessional audience in response to COVID-19.
• The model demonstrates potential for addressing other urgent national public health challenges.
• Telementoring fosters community of practice and social networks crucial for public health response.