Expanding a Regional Sickle Cell Disease Project ECHO^® to Rapidly Disseminate COVID-19 Education

Healthcare providers faced numerous knowledge gaps and challenges with adapting practice behaviors in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, an established virtual sickle cell disease (SCD) telementoring program rapidly expanded from monthly evidence-based didactic sessions focused on medical and psychosocial complications of sickle cell disease, to additional supplemental COVID-19 sessions with emerging pandemic topics and forums for shared experiences to address this timely educational need among multidisciplinary healthcare providers.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 and Sickle Cell Disease Project ECHO^® telementoring series was launched with a rapidly evolving curriculum of contemporary topics and case presentations. Topics included COVID-19 specific management for children and adults with sickle cell disease and strategies to adapt care and communication during the pandemic. Participants completed evaluations after each session.

From March 2020 to February 2022, there were 20 COVID-19 and SCD Project ECHO^® sessions held with an average of 43 participants per session, which is over a 170% increase from the average SCD ECHO monthly attendance pre-pandemic. Participants represented 21 states and 3 countries. A majority of participants (91%) self-reported significantly improved knowledge of COVID-19.

Project ECHO^® is a successful educational strategy to diffuse knowledge using a virtual platform during a public health emergency, by facilitating shared learning among a community of practice that specializes in the management of sickle cell disease.