Impact of the TeleECHO model: Rapid identification and treatment of syphilis

Syphilis is a growing concern globally, affecting adult men and women as well as the fetus of infected mothers. Nationally, syphilis disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic women compared with White women, and younger women are reported to experience a disproportionate burden of syphilis with the highest disparities. Syphilis can be difficult to diagnose, particularly if the health care provider is not well-versed in risk factors and signs and symptoms of the disease. TeleECHO is a telementoring model that has been employed worldwide to educate providers on a wide array of health-related topics. The model unites clinical experts and community partners with learners in distant sites to extend knowledge and expertise to those providing frontline care. This case study depicts the successful identification and treatment of syphilis in an unhoused woman seeking care at a free and charitable clinic whose interprofessional staff and providers had recently attended a TeleECHO on syphilis. The impact of the TeleECHO knowledge sharing and the collaboration enabled by local community partnerships developed through the ECHO are highlighted while providing guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of syphilis.