Evaluation of a Telementoring Intervention for Pain Management in the Veterans Health Administration

Claims data analysis of provider-to-provider tele-mentoring program impact on opioid prescribing in Missouri

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess opioid prescribing patterns of primary care providers (PCPs) participating in a virtual tele-mentoring program for patients with chronic pain as compared to nonparticipants.

DESIGN

We utilized Missouri Medicaid claims from 2013 to 2021 to compare opioid prescription dosages and daily supply of opioids prescribed by PCPs. Participants and nonparticipants were matched using propensity score matching.

SETTING

Missouri Medicaid data were received through partnership with the Center for Health Policy's MO HealthNet Data Project, the state's leading provider of Medicaid data.

PARTICIPANTS

Missouri-based prescribers.

INTERVENTION

Show-Me Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), an evidence-based provider-to-provider telehealth intervention that connects PCPs with a team of specialists.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We compared the rate of prescription opioid >50 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), mean MMEs/day, and mean number of daily supply to understand the impact of the ECHO model on providers' opioid prescribing.

RESULTS

Patients treated by ECHO providers have 33 percent lower odds of being prescribed opioid dose >50 MME/day (p < 0.001) compared to non-ECHO providers. There is also a 14 percent reduction in the average opioid dose prescribed to patients of ECHO providers (p < 0.001). We observed a 3 percent (p < 0.001) reduction in average daily supply of opioids among patients of ECHO providers compared to the comparison group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain Management ECHO supports PCPs with needed education and skills to provide specialty care in the management of pain conditions and safe prescribing of opioid medications.

Innovative treatment formats, technologies, and clinician trainings that improve access to behavioral pain treatment for youth and adults

Chronic pain is prevalent across the life span and associated with significant individual and societal costs. Behavioral interventions are recommended as the gold-standard, evidence-based interventions for chronic pain, but barriers, such as lack of pain-trained clinicians, poor insurance coverage, and high treatment burden, limit patients' ability to access evidenced-based pain education and treatment resources. Recent advances in technology offer new opportunities to leverage innovative digital formats to overcome these barriers and dramatically increase access to high-quality, evidenced-based pain treatments for youth and adults. This scoping review highlights new advances. First, we describe system-level barriers to the broad dissemination of behavioral pain treatment. Next, we review several promising new pediatric and adult pain education and treatment technology innovations to improve access and scalability of evidence-based behavioral pain treatments. Current challenges and future research and clinical recommendations are offered.

Direct and Indirect Effects of a Project ECHO Longitudinal Clinical Tele-Mentoring Program on Viral Suppression for Persons With HIV: A Population-Based Analysis

BACKGROUND

Project Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) aims to connect community providers to academic specialists, deliver longitudinal clinical mentorship and case consultations, plus encourage dissemination of knowledge and resources. The impact on outcomes for persons with HIV (PWH) is uncertain.

SETTING

PWH in Washington and Oregon outside of the Seattle and Portland metro areas, January 2011 to March 2018.

METHODS

Using viral load (VL) surveillance data, we assessed difference in the percentage of PWH who were virally suppressed among PWH whose providers participated versus did not participate in Project ECHO. Analyses included multiple mixed-effects regression models, adjusting for time and for patient, provider, and clinic characteristics.

RESULTS

Based on 65,623 VL results, Project ECHO participation was associated with an increase in the percentage of patients with VL suppression (13.7 percentage points greater; P < 0.0001), although the effect varied by estimated provider PWH patient volume. The difference was 14.7 percentage points ( P < 0.0001) among patients of providers who order <20 VL's/quarter and 2.3 and -0.6 percentage points among patients of providers who order 20-40 or >40 VL's/quarter, respectively ( P > 0.5). The magnitude of difference in VL suppression was associated with the number of sessions attended. Among patients of lower-volume providers who did not participate, VL suppression was 6.2 percentage points higher if providers worked in a clinic where another provider did participate ( P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Project ECHO is associated with improvement in VL suppression for PWH whose providers participate or work in the same clinic system as a provider who participates, primarily because of benefits for patients of lower-volume providers.

Effectiveness of Telementoring in Improving Provider Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceived Competence in Managing Chronic Pain: A Mixed Methods Study

INTRODUCTION

Telementoring is an evidence-based approach to meet the educational needs of primary care providers (PCPs) and to improve the quality of chronic pain care. This mixed methods study evaluated the effectiveness of pain management telementoring in improving provider knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted at Madigan Army Medical Center. Using a non-randomized quasi-experimental approach, 25 providers were assigned to intervention arm and control arm (14 intervention and 13 control). Providers in the intervention group attended telementoring sessions. Videoconference technology was used to deliver weekly 90-minute TelePain sessions to the PCPs in the intervention group. The first 25-30 minutes of each session consisted of a didactic presentation led by a panel of interdisciplinary pain management clinicians. During the remaining 60 minutes, all PCPs in the intervention group presented clinical histories and asked specific management questions regarding patients of their choosing. An interdisciplinary panel of pain management clinicians provided telementoring consultations. The panel included experts from pain medicine, primary care, psychology or psychiatry, chiropractic, clinical pharmacy, and nursing. Changes in provider knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competence were evaluated using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain, KnowPain-12, and the Perceived Competence Scale (n = 23; 12 intervention and 11 control). Qualitative interviews were conducted among a subset of providers (n = 12; 8 intervention and 4 control), and provider narratives were analyzed using content analysis.

RESULTS

Increased provider knowledge (Z = 2.0, P = .046 [KnowPain-12]) and perceived competence (Z = 2.1, P = .033) were observed among intervention group providers. Provider narratives supported more implementation of non-pharmacological pain management strategies, use of strategies to engage patients in reducing reliance on opioids, and perception of TelePain as a helpful resource especially in the context of inadequate preparation in chronic pain management during professional training.

CONCLUSIONS

Telementoring may hold significant potential to support providers in their efforts to decrease use of prescription opioids. Overall, this study provides further support for the value of telementoring in improving comprehensive chronic pain management in military settings.

Digital Health Interventions to Enhance Prevention in Primary Care: Scoping Review

Background

Disease prevention is a central aspect of primary care practice and is comprised of primary (eg, vaccinations), secondary (eg, screenings), tertiary (eg, chronic condition monitoring), and quaternary (eg, prevention of overmedicalization) levels. Despite rapid digital transformation of primary care practices, digital health interventions (DHIs) in preventive care have yet to be systematically evaluated.

Objective

This review aimed to identify and describe the scope and use of current DHIs for preventive care in primary care settings.

Methods

A scoping review to identify literature published from 2014 to 2020 was conducted across multiple databases using keywords and Medical Subject Headings terms covering primary care professionals, prevention and care management, and digital health. A subgroup analysis identified relevant studies conducted in US primary care settings, excluding DHIs that use the electronic health record (EHR) as a retrospective data capture tool. Technology descriptions, outcomes (eg, health care performance and implementation science), and study quality as per Oxford levels of evidence were abstracted.

Results

The search yielded 5274 citations, of which 1060 full-text articles were identified. Following a subgroup analysis, 241 articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies primarily examined DHIs among health information technologies, including EHRs (166/241, 68.9%), clinical decision support (88/241, 36.5%), telehealth (88/241, 36.5%), and multiple technologies (154/241, 63.9%). DHIs were predominantly used for tertiary prevention (131/241, 54.4%). Of the core primary care functions, comprehensiveness was addressed most frequently (213/241, 88.4%). DHI users were providers (205/241, 85.1%), patients (111/241, 46.1%), or multiple types (89/241, 36.9%). Reported outcomes were primarily clinical (179/241, 70.1%), and statistically significant improvements were common (192/241, 79.7%). Results were summarized across the following 5 topics for the most novel/distinct DHIs: population-centered, patient-centered, care access expansion, panel-centered (dashboarding), and application-driven DHIs. The quality of the included studies was moderate to low.

Conclusions

Preventive DHIs in primary care settings demonstrated meaningful improvements in both clinical and nonclinical outcomes, and across user types; however, adoption and implementation in the US were limited primarily to EHR platforms, and users were mainly clinicians receiving alerts regarding care management for their patients. Evaluations of negative results, effects on health disparities, and many other gaps remain to be explored.

Workforce Development to Improve Access to Pain Care for Veterans: A Qualitative Analysis of VA-ECHO Participant Experiences

Background/Objective

The prevalence of chronic pain and its links to the opioid epidemic have given way to widespread aims to improve pain management care and reduce opioid use, especially in rural areas. Pain Management Specialty Care Access Network-Extension for Community Health Outcomes (VA-ECHO) promotes increased pain care access to rural Veterans through knowledge sharing from specialists to primary care providers (PCPs). We explored PCP participants’ experiences in VA-ECHO and pain management care.

Methods

This qualitative study is based on a descriptive secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 10) and 3 focus groups with PCPs participating in VA-ECHO from 2017–2019. A rapid matrix analysis approach was used to analyze participants’ responses.

Results

VA-ECHO was an effective workforce development strategy for meeting PCPs’ training needs by providing pain management knowledge and skills training (eg alternative care approaches and communicating treatment options). Having protected time to participate in VA-ECHO was a challenge for many PCPs, mitigated by leadership and administrative support. Participants who volunteer to participate had more positive experiences than those required to attend.

Conclusions

VA-ECHO could be used for meeting the workforce development needs of PCPs. Respondents were satisfied with the program citing improvement in their practice and increased confidence in providing pain management care to Veterans despite some challenges to participation. These findings offer insight into using VA-ECHO to meet the VHA’s workforce development to improve Veterans’ access to pain management care. The ECHO model presents opportunities for workforce development in large complex healthcare systems and garnering ongoing support for this training model is necessary for promoting workforce development for PCPs.

Low-touch, team-based care for co-morbidity management in cancer patients: the ONE TEAM randomized controlled trial

Background

As treatments for cancer have improved, more people are surviving cancer. However, compared to people without a history of cancer, cancer survivors are more likely to die of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased risk for CVD-related mortality among cancer survivors is partially due to lack of medication adherence and problems that exist in care coordination between cancer specialists, primary care physicians, and cardiologists.

Methods/Design

The Onco-primary care networking to support TEAM-based care (ONE TEAM) study is an 18-month cluster-randomized controlled trial with clustering at the primary care clinic level. ONE TEAM compares the provision of the iGuide intervention to patients and primary care providers versus an education-only control. For phase 1, at the patient level, the intervention includes video vignettes and a live webinar; provider-level interventions include electronic health records-based communication and case-based webinars. Participants will be enrolled from across North Carolina one of their first visits with a cancer specialist (e.g., surgeon, radiation or medical oncologist). We use a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design.

Outcomes (measured at the patient level) will include Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality measures of management of three CVD comorbidities using laboratory testing (glycated hemoglobin [A1c], lipid profile) and blood pressure measurements; (2) medication adherence assessed pharmacy refill data using Proportion of Days Covered (PDC); and (3) patient-provider communication (Patient-Centered Communication in Cancer Care, PCC-Ca-36).

Primary care clinics in the intervention arm will be considered non-responders if 90% or more of their participating patients do not meet the modified HEDIS quality metrics at the 6-month measurement, assessed once the first enrollee from each practice reaches the 12-month mark. Non-responders will be re-randomized to either continue to receive the iGuide 1 intervention, or to receive the iGuide 2 intervention, which includes tailored videos for participants and specialist consults with primary care providers.

Discussion

As the population of cancer survivors grows, ONE TEAM will contribute to closing the CVD outcomes gap among cancer survivors by optimizing and integrating cancer care and primary care teams. ONE TEAM is designed so that it will be possible for others to emulate and implement at scale.

Trial registration

This study (NCT04258813) was registered in clinicaltrals.gov on February 6, 2020.

Clinical Effectiveness of an Outpatient Multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Management Telementoring Service

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a Pain E-Consult Program (PEP), a multidisciplinary telementoring service based on the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model to reduce opioid use in the outpatient setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective matched cohort study conducted in an integrated health care delivery system. Adult patients without cancer and with a 90-day morphine milligram equivalent (MME) ≥30 mg/d between April 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, were included. Patients whose primary care clinician received the PEP (observation) were compared with usual care (control) patients. Observation patients were matched up to 1:5 to control patients. Outcomes included change in MME and initiation of nonopioid alternative medications. Multivariable regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 665 patients were matched: 125 and 540 in the observation and control groups, respectively. Patients were primarily female, white, and Medicare beneficiaries. The observation group had a statistically significantly greater decrease in median MME/day during the 6-month (-7.4 vs. 1.5 mg, P=0.002) and 12-month (-15.1 vs. -2.8 mg, P<0.001) follow-up and rates of ≥20% decrease (6 mo: 41.6% vs. 24.6%, P=0.003; 12 mo: 48.0% vs. 32.6%, P=0.017). There were no differences in the rates of initiation of nonopioid alternative medications.

CONCLUSIONS

A PEP was associated with greater reductions in MME/day compared with usual care despite similar rates of nonopioid alternative medication initiation. A prospective randomized study of this program should be undertaken to confirm these findings.

Use of Project ECHO Telementoring Model in Continuing Medical Education for Pediatricians in Vietnam: Preliminary Results

The ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) model has been introduced and implemented in several hospitals and health programs in Vietnam since 2015. In 2018, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital (VNCH) officially implemented the ECHO model to provide continuing medical education (CME) credits on pediatrics topics for medical staff in its satellite hospitals and health centers in the Northern region of Vietnam. This paper presents preliminary results of the ECHO program at VNCH. Methods included pre- and post-program assessments of pediatricians’ clinical knowledge, self-efficacy, and professional satisfaction. The analysis compared the differences between pre/post scores descriptively. Knowledge of participants increased by 22.5% points on average. More than 90% of Project ECHO-Pediatrics participants experienced increased confidence. Overall, there was an improvement in participants’ self-efficacy in the post-training compared to the pre-training (range 14.7%-22.6% difference from pre-training). All participants improved on their results in the clinical test immediately after the training and maintained it after 3 months. The study demonstrated the ability Project ECHO to improve healthcare worker knowledge and satisfaction.

Impact of a videoconferencing educational programme for the management of concurrent disorders on nurses' competency development and clinical practice: protocol for a convergent mixed methods study

INTRODUCTION

Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO©) is an innovative model for continuing professional development that uses videoconferencing technology to support and train general practitioners remotely. The model has been replicated to a variety of settings and locations for capacity building in healthcare professionals caring for patients with chronic and complex health conditions. Limited research has been conducted so far on the impact of ECHO in the field of concurrent mental health and substance use disorders (ie, concurrent disorders (CDs)). Therefore, this mixed methods study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of an ECHO programme impact for CD management on nurses' competency development and clinical practice.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The proposed mixed methods study, based on a convergent parallel design, will be conducted in the province of Quebec, Canada, to collect, analyse and interpret quantitative (QUAN) and qualitative (QUAL) data from a specific ECHO Program on CDs. In the QUAN component, an observational prospective cohort study will be conducted over a 12-month period. All nurses who participated in the programme between 2018 and 2020 and who consent to research will be recruited to collect data on the extent of their learning and practice outcomes at three time points. Alongside the surveys, nurses will be invited to participate in individual semistructured interviews. In-depth QUAL data will be subjected to a thematic analysis and will assist in exploring how and in which conditions nurses developed and mobilised their competencies in clinical practice. A comparison-of-results strategy will be used in the final integration component of the study.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Université de Montréal Hospital Center (#19.295) and the Université de Montréal Ethics Committee (CERSES-20-017 R). We aim to disseminate the findings through international academic conferences, international peer-reviewed journals and professional media.

Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Telementoring in the Military: Where We Are Now, Opportunities and Challenges

Introduction

In collaboration with the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Institute since 2012, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have developed medical teleECHO programs to address various health and safety issues affecting military personnel. This article describes and compares the current state of military teleECHOs as well as the growth and change over time.

Materials and Methods

This study evaluated continuing education units (CEUs) offered, average session attendance, and number of spoke sites for current military teleECHO programs across the service branches.

Results

Between 2012 and 2019, the military teleECHO initiative grew from one program to seven different teleECHO programs, covering topics from pain to diabetes to amputee care. Military ECHOs now provide training to 10 countries and 27 states in the United States. Between October 2018 and September 2019, the military ECHO programs provided a total of 51,769 continuing medical education (CME) hours to a total of 3,575 attendees from 223 spoke sites.

Conclusions

The military has successfully used the ECHO model to improve the health and safety of active-duty military, retirees, and dependents.

Pain Management Telementoring, Long-term Opioid Prescribing, and Patient-Reported Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Benefits of primary care provider (PCP) participation in pain management telementoring have been reported; however, no studies have examined within-patient changes in dose or discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy (LOT). The objectives of this nonrandomized study were to evaluate the relationship between telementoring participation and 1) LOT dose reduction and 2) LOT discontinuation and to 3) explore the relationship between LOT dose changes and patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS

PCPs were recruited from a US Army medical center. Intervention group PCPs (N = 12) attended telementoring sessions; control group providers (N = 13) did not. Morphine equivalent daily doses (MEDD) for patients of study providers (N = 396) were extracted from the study site's opioid database. The intervention group was subdivided based on number of sessions attended (i.e., active and low participation). Intent-to-treat and as-treated analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations. Separate analyses evaluated the association between within-patient changes in MEDD and pain impact, depression, and anxiety (N = 40).

RESULTS

Intent-to-treat analysis revealed no significant difference in MEDD reduction; however, a higher proportion of patients of intervention PCPs discontinued LOT (25% ± 3.6%) compared with control PCPs (16% ± 3.6%, P < 0.05). As-treated analyses revealed differences in MEDD reduction between active (13.2 ± 3.0) and low-participating (2.6 ± 3.0) PCPs (P < 0.01). Further, a higher proportion of patients of actively participating PCPs discontinued LOT (29% ± 4.9%) compared with control PCPs (16% ± 3.6%, P = 0.01). We found no evidence that decreased MEDD was associated with poorer self-reported outcomes within patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain management telementoring supports PCPs' efforts to reduce reliance on LOT for chronic pain management and highlights the need for actively engaged PCP pain champions.

Project ECHO COVID-19: Vulnerable Populations and Telehealth Early in the Pandemic

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Project ECHO COVID-19 was launched nationwide on March 4, 2020 to disseminate guidance about COVID-19 in a timely and scalable manner to meet the urgent needs of primary care settings, the first line of defense in a pandemic.

METHODS

Data from post-session surveys were analyzed to assess participant satisfaction, knowledge gaps, change in knowledge, and anticipated changes in practice as a result of Project ECHO COVID-19. A content analysis was conducted of the 243 questions and concerns posted by over 2000 participants in the Question and Answer function of Zoom during the first 8 sessions (March 4-April 29, 2020).

RESULTS

Of 5243 registrants, 49% attended at least one session. Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that didactic sessions (97%) and case presentations (96%) met their learning needs; 93% reported gaining new knowledge, and 88% would implement that knowledge. Only 32% and 53% of respondents anticipated changing workflows and adapting to telehealth, respectively, despite the need for both as the pandemic continued. The content analysis identified 3 categories: clinical operations (eg, testing, triage, telehealth, billing); patient care (diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, management of high-risk vulnerable populations); and epidemiology (viral spread, implications for public health).

CONCLUSIONS

Care of vulnerable populations and clinical operations should be addressed when planning education and clinical interventions for public health crises. Adapting the Project ECHO model to be more scalable was an effective means of creating a community of practice among health professionals when evidence-based guidance was not available to manage the implications of a pandemic.

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Pain Management for Veterans Seeking Service-Connection Payments for Musculoskeletal Disorders: SBIRT-PM Study Protocol

Background

Veterans with significant chronic pain from musculoskeletal disorders are at risk of substance misuse. Veterans whose condition is the result of military service may be eligible for a disability pension. Department of Veterans Affairs compensation examinations, which determine the degree of disability and whether it was connected to military service, represent an opportunity to engage Veterans in pain management and substance use treatments. A multisite randomized clinical trial is testing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Pain Management (SBIRT-PM) for Veterans seeking compensation for musculoskeletal disorders. This telephone-based intervention is delivered through a hub-and-spoke configuration.

Design

This study is a two-arm, parallel-group, 36-week, multisite randomized controlled single-blind trial. It will randomize 1,100 Veterans experiencing pain and seeking service-connection for musculoskeletal disorders to either SBIRT-PM or usual care across eight New England VA medical centers. The study balances pragmatic with explanatory methodological features. Primary outcomes are pain severity and number of substances misused. Nonpharmacological pain management and substance use services utilization are tracked in the trial.

Summary

Early trial enrollment targets were met across sites. SBIRT-PM could help Veterans, at the time of their compensation claims, use multimodal pain treatments and reduce existing substance misuse. Strategies to address COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the SBIRT-PM protocol have been developed to maintain its pragmatic and exploratory integrity.

Virtual academic detailing (e-Detailing): A vital tool during the COVID-19 pandemic

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues its course in 2020, telehealth technology provides opportunities to connect patients and providers. Health policies have been amended to allow easy access to virtual health care, highlighting the field's dynamic ability to adapt to a public health crisis. Academic detailing, a peer-to-peer collaborative outreach designed to improve clinical decision-making, has traditionally relied on in-person encounters for effectiveness. A growth in the adoption of telehealth technology translates to increases in academic detailing reach for providers unable to meet with academic detailers in person. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has used academic detailing to promote and reinforce evidence-based practices and has encouraged more virtual academic detailing (e-Detailing). Moreover, VA academic detailers are primarily clinical pharmacy specialists who provide clinical services and education and have made meaningful contributions to improving health care at VA. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and physical isolation orders, VA academic detailers have continued to meet with providers to disseminate critical health care information in a timely fashion by using video-based telehealth. When working through the adoption of virtual technology for the delivery of medical care, providers may need time and nontraditional delivery of "evidence" before eliciting signals for change. Academic detailers are well suited for this role and can develop plans to help address provider discomfort surrounding the use of telehealth technology. By using e-Detailing as a method for both familiarizing and normalizing health professionals with video-based telehealth technology, pharmacists are uniquely poised to deliver consultation and direct-care services. Moreover, academic detailing pharmacists are ambassadors of change, serving an important role navigating the evolution of health care in response to emergent public health crises and helping define the norms of care delivery to follow.

A Qualitative Evaluation of the Pain Management VA-ECHO Program Using the RE-AIM Framework: The Participant's Perspective

Introduction: Veterans frequently seek chronic pain care from their primary care providers (PCPs) who may not be adequately trained to provide pain management. To address this issue the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Specialty Care adopted the Specialty Care Access Network Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (VA-ECHO née SCAN-ECHO). The VA-ECHO program offered training and mentoring by specialists to PCPs and their staff. VA-ECHO included virtual sessions where expertise was shared in two formats: (1) didactics on common pain conditions, relevant psychological disorders, and treatment options and (2) real-time consultation on patient cases. Materials and methods: VA-ECHO participants' perspectives were obtained using a semi-structured interview guide designed to elicit responses based on the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework. A convenience sampling was used to recruit PCPs and non-physician support staff participants. Non-physicians from rural VHA sites were purposively sampled to gain diverse perspectives. Findings: This qualitative study yielded data on each RE-AIM domain except reach. Program reach was not measured as it is outside the scope of this study. Respondents reported program effectiveness as gains in knowledge and skills to improve pain care delivery. Effective incorporation of learning into practice was reflected in respondents' perceptions of improvements in: patient engagement, evidenced-based approaches, appropriate referrals, and opioid use. Program adoption included how participating health care systems selected trainees from a range of sites and roles to achieve a wide reach of pain expertise. Participation was limited by time to attend and facilitated by institutional support. Differences and similarities were noted in implementation between hub sites. Maintenance was revealed when respondents noted the importance of the lasting relationships formed between fellow participants. Discussion: This study highlights VA-ECHO program attributes and unintended consequences. These findings are expected to inform future use of VA-ECHO as a means to establish a supportive consultation network between primary and specialty care providers to promote the delivery evidence-based pain management practices.

Impact of Project ECHO Models of Medical Tele-Education: a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) and related models of medical tele-education are rapidly expanding; however, their effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of ECHO and ECHO-like medical tele-education models of healthcare delivery in terms of improved provider- and patient-related outcomes.

METHODS

We searched English-language studies in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases from 1 January 2007 to 1 December 2018 as well as bibliography review. Two reviewers independently screened citations for peer-reviewed publications reporting provider- and/or patient-related outcomes of technology-enabled collaborative learning models that satisfied six criteria of the ECHO framework. Reviewers then independently abstracted data, assessed study quality, and rated strength of evidence (SOE) based on Cochrane GRADE criteria.

RESULTS

Data from 52 peer-reviewed articles were included. Forty-three reported provider-related outcomes; 15 reported patient-related outcomes. Studies on provider-related outcomes suggested favorable results across three domains: satisfaction, increased knowledge, and increased clinical confidence. However, SOE was low, relying primarily on self-reports and surveys with low response rates. One randomized trial has been conducted. For patient-related outcomes, 11 of 15 studies incorporated a comparison group; none involved randomization. Four studies reported care outcomes, while 11 reported changes in care processes. Evidence suggested effectiveness at improving outcomes for patients with hepatitis C, chronic pain, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. Evidence is generally low-quality, retrospective, non-experimental, and subject to social desirability bias and low survey response rates.

DISCUSSION

The number of studies examining ECHO and ECHO-like models of medical tele-education has been modest compared with the scope and scale of implementation throughout the USA and internationally. Given the potential of ECHO to broaden access to healthcare in rural, remote, and underserved communities, more studies are needed to evaluate effectiveness. This need for evidence follows similar patterns to other service delivery models in the literature.

Project STEP: Implementing the Veterans Health Administration's Stepped Care Model of Pain Management

Objective

The "stepped care model of pain management" (SCM-PM) prioritizes the role of primary care providers in optimizing pharmacological management and timely and equitable access to patient-centered, evidence-based nonpharmacological approaches, when indicated. Over the past several years, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has supported implementation of SCM-PM, but few data exist regarding changes in pain care resulting from implementation. We examined trends in prescribing and referral practices of primary care providers with hypotheses of decreased opioid prescribing, increased nonopioid prescribing, and increased referrals to specialty care for nonpharmacological services.

Design

An initiative was designed to foster implementation and systematic evaluation of the SCM-PM over a five-year period at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS) while fostering collaborative, partnered initiatives to promote organizational improvements in the delivery of pain care.

Subjects

Participants were veterans receiving care at VACHS with at least one pain intensity rating ≥4/10 over the course of the study period (7/2008-6/2013).

Methods

We used electronic health record data to examine changes in indicators of pain care including pharmacy and health care utilization data.

Results

We observed hypothesized changes in long-term opioid and nonopioid analgesic prescribing and increased utilization of nonpharmacological treatments such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and clinical health psychology.

Conclusions

Through a multifaceted comprehensive implementation approach, primary care providers demonstrated increases in guideline-concordant pain care practices. Findings suggest that engagement of interdisciplinary teams and partnerships to promote organizational improvements is a useful strategy to increase the use of integrated, multimodal pain care for veterans, consistent with VHA's SCM-PM.

Project ECHO Telementoring Intervention for Managing Chronic Pain in Primary Care: Insights from a Qualitative Study

Objective

Family physicians in Canada receive little training in chronic pain management; concomitantly, they face increasing pressure to reduce their prescribing of opioids. Project ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain/Opioid Stewardship (ECHO) is a telementoring intervention for primary care practitioners that enhances their pain management skills. This qualitative study reports participants' experiences and assessment of ECHO.

Design

An opportunistic sample of multidisciplinary primary care providers attending one of three residential weekend workshops participated in focus group discussions.

Setting

University or hospital facilities in Toronto, Thunder Bay, and Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Subjects

Seventeen physicians and 20 allied health professionals.

Methods

Six focus group discussions were conducted at three different sites during 2014 and 2015. Transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative-descriptive approach involving analytic immersion in the data, reflection, and achieving consensus around themes discerned from transcribed discussions.

Results

Findings resolved into five main themes: 1) challenges of managing chronic pain in primary care; 2) ECHO participation and improvement in patient-provider interaction and participant knowledge; 3) the diffusion of knowledge gained through ECHO to participants' colleagues and patients; 4) ECHO participation generating a sense of community; and 5) disadvantages associated with participating in ECHO.

Conclusions

Managing patients with chronic pain in primary care can be difficult, particularly in remote or underserved practices. Project ECHO offers guidance to primary care practitioners for their most challenging patients, promotes knowledge acquisition and diffusion, and stimulates the development of a "community of practice."

SCAN-ECHO for Pain Management: Implementing a Regional Telementoring Training for Primary Care Providers

Objective

The Specialty Care Access Network-Extension for Community Health Outcomes (SCAN-ECHO) is a video teleconferencing-based training program where primary care providers are trained by a specialty care team to provide specialty care. A multidisciplinary team of pain management specialists at the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center established such a program for pain management; a description and preliminary effectiveness assessment of this training program is presented.

Design

Primary care provider participants in the Specialty Care Access Network program in pain management completed pre- and post-training questionnaires. A subset of these participants also participated in a group session semistructured interview.

Subjects

Twenty-four primary care providers from Cleveland, South Texas, or Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Medical Centers who regularly attended pain management SCAN-ECHO sessions during 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014 completed pre- and post-training questionnaires.

Methods

Pre- and post-training questionnaires were conducted to measure confidence in treating and knowledge of pain management. Questionnaire responses were tested for significance using R. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive coding and content analysis.

Results

Statistically significant increases in confidence ratings and scores on knowledge questionnaires were noted from pre- to post-pain management SCAN-ECHO training. Program participants felt more knowledgeable and reported improved communication between specialty and primary care providers.

Conclusions

This pilot study reveals positive outcomes in terms of primary care providers' confidence and knowledge in treating patients with chronic pain. Results suggest that involving primary care providers in a one-year academic project such as this can improve their knowledge and skills and has the potential to influence their opioid prescribing practices.

Project ECHO Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Analysis of Recommendations by Expert Faculty and the Process of Knowledge Translation

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies of the same Project ECHO Chronic Pain cohort demonstrated that recommendations to primary care providers (PCPs) by expert faculty follow CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids and that participating PCPs change their practice accordingly. The purpose of this study was to identify how expert faculty translates knowledge, so that PCPs can act on it.

METHODS

One hundred ninety-seven PCPs from 82 practices in 14 states attended at least one Project ECHO Chronic Pain session over 10 months, hosted by a large federally qualified health center. Expert faculty was a multidisciplinary panel of six clinicians. Recommendations for 25 randomly selected case presentations were transcribed, yielding 406 discrete units of data. A thematic analysis contributed to a concept map for knowledge translation.

RESULTS

Expert faculty addressed psychosocial issues in 40% of recommendations. Three themes represented a familiar clinical decision-making process: recommendations for treatment accounted for risk factors and patient engagement and behavior. A concept map placed the recommendations for selected cases in the first phase of the action cycle in the Knowledge-to-Action framework, where knowledge is shared but not yet acted on.

DISCUSSION

Project ECHO Chronic Pain is an example of iterative guided practice, wherein expert faculty use published guidelines and professional experience to make recommendations for patient care to PCPs. This occurs using shared social-cultural-historical language and context consistent with social constructivist theories of learning.

The Socioeconomic Burden of Pain From War

War's burden on the health and well-being of combatants, civilians, and societies is well documented. Although the examination of soldiers' injuries in modern combat is both detailed and comprehensive, less is known about war-related injuries to civilians and refugees, including victims of torture. The societal burden of war-related disabilities persists for decades in war's aftermath. The complex injuries of combat survivors, including multiple pain conditions and neuropsychiatric comorbidities, challenge health care systems to reorganize care to meet these survivors' special needs.We use the case study method to illustrate the change in pain management strategies for injured combat survivors in one national health system, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The care of veterans' disabling injuries suffered in Vietnam contrasts with the care resulting from the VA's congressional mandate to design and implement a pain management policy that provides effective pain management to veterans injured in the recent Middle East conflicts.The outcomes-driven, patient-centric Stepped Care Model of biopsychosocial pain management requires system-wide patient education, clinician training, social networking, and administrative monitoring. Societies are encouraged to develop their health care system's capacity to effectively respond to the victims of warfare, including combatants and refugees.

Evaluation of an innovative tele-education intervention in chronic pain management for primary care clinicians practicing in underserved areas

INTRODUCTION

Inadequate knowledge and training of healthcare providers are obstacles to effective chronic pain management. ECHO (extension for community healthcare outcomes) uses case-based learning and videoconferencing to connect specialists with providers in underserved areas. ECHO aims to increase capacity in managing complex cases in areas with poor access to specialists.

METHODS

A pre-post study was conducted to evaluate the impact of ECHO on healthcare providers' self-efficacy, knowledge and satisfaction. Type of profession, presenting a case, and number of sessions attended were examined as potential factors that may influence the outcomes.

RESULTS

From June 2014 to March 2017, 296 primary care healthcare providers attended ECHO, 264 were eligible for the study, 170 (64%) completed the pre-ECHO questionnaire and 119 completed post-ECHO questionnaires. Participants were physicians (34%), nurse practitioners (21%), pharmacists (13%) and allied health professionals (32%). Participants attended a mean of 15 ± 9.19 sessions. There was a significant increase in self-efficacy (p < 0.0001) and knowledge (p < 0.0001). Self-efficacy improvement was significantly higher among physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners than the non-prescribers group (p = 0.03). On average, 96% of participants were satisfied with ECHO. Satisfaction was higher among those who presented cases and attended more sessions.

DISCUSSION

This study shows that ECHO improved providers' self-efficacy and knowledge. We evaluated outcomes from a multidisciplinary group of providers practicing in Ontario. This diversity supports the generalisability of our findings. Therefore, we suggest that this project may be used as a template for creating other educational programs on other medical topics.

Using ECHO Clinics to Promote Capacity Building in Clinical Supervision

INTRODUCTION

Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO™) is a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing network, led by expert teams who use multipoint videoconferencing to conduct virtual clinics with community providers in order to improve the quality of care. For this project, members of the Addiction Technology Transfer Center network applied this model in order to enhance workforce capacity to deliver clinical supervision for the treatment of substance use disorders.

METHODS

Clinical supervisors (n=66) employed in substance use disorder treatment programs were recruited to participate in this pilot study. The virtual ECHO clinic consisted of 12 total sessions, each lasting 1 hour and comprising a 15-minute mini-lecture on a clinical supervision topic and a 45-minute case presentation and review. All data were collected and analyzed between September 2016 and June 2017.

RESULTS

Forty-eight staff attended at least one ECHO session (mean=6.38) and results are presented for 20 staff who completed the follow-up survey. Participants were highly satisfied with the overall intervention, organization of the clinic and the facilitation of Hub experts, relevance of the technical assistance to their work, and with the impact of the intervention on their effectiveness as a supervisor. Results also indicate that there were significant self-reported improvements in clinical supervision self-efficacy following participation in the ECHO clinic.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this pilot study suggest that ECHO virtual clinics are feasible to implement for the purpose of workforce development, are well liked by participants, and can enhance clinical supervision self-efficacy among participants. Further research should explore the impact of self-efficacy on the effective implementation of clinical supervision practices.

SUPPLEMENT INFORMATION

This article is part of a supplement entitled The Behavioral Health Workforce: Planning, Practice, and Preparation, which is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Association Between Facility-Level Utilization of Non-pharmacologic Chronic Pain Treatment and Subsequent Initiation of Long-Term Opioid Therapy

BACKGROUND

Expert guidelines recommend non-pharmacologic treatments and non-opioid medications for chronic pain and recommend against initiating long-term opioid therapy (LTOT).

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether veterans with incident chronic pain receiving care at facilities with greater utilization of non-pharmacologic treatments and non-opioid medications are less likely to initiate LTOT.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study PARTICIPANTS: Veterans receiving primary care from a Veterans Health Administration facility with incident chronic pain between 1/1/2010 and 12/31/2015 based on either of 2 criteria: (1) persistent moderate-to-severe patient-reported pain and (2) diagnoses "likely to represent" chronic pain.

MAIN MEASURES

The independent variable was facility-level utilization of pain-related treatment modalities (non-pharmacologic, non-opioid medications, LTOT) in the prior calendar year. The dependent variable was patient-level initiation of LTOT (≥ 90 days within 365 days) in the subsequent year, adjusting for patient characteristics.

KEY RESULTS

Among 1,094,569 veterans with incident chronic pain from 2010 to 2015, there was wide facility-level variation in utilization of 10 pain-related treatment modalities, including initiation of LTOT (median, 16%; range, 5-32%). Veterans receiving care at facilities with greater utilization of non-pharmacologic treatments were less likely to initiate LTOT in the year following incident chronic pain. Conversely, veterans receiving care at facilities with greater non-opioid and opioid medication utilization were more likely to initiate LTOT; this association was strongest for past year facility-level LTOT initiation (adjusted rate ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 2.06-2.15, top vs. bottom quartile of facility-level LTOT initiation in prior calendar year).

CONCLUSIONS

Facility-level utilization patterns of non-pharmacologic, non-opioid, and opioid treatments for chronic pain are associated with subsequent patient-level initiation of LTOT among veterans with incident chronic pain. Further studies should seek to understand facility-level variation in chronic pain care and to identify facility-level utilization patterns that are associated with improved patient outcomes.

Tele-yoga for Chronic Pain: Current Status and Future Directions

Pain is a pervasive, debilitating disorder that is resistant to long-term pharmacological interventions. Although psychological therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy demonstrate moderate efficacy, many individuals continue to have ongoing difficulties following treatment. There is a current trend to establish complementary and integrative health interventions for chronic pain, for which yoga has been found to have exciting potential. Nevertheless, an important consideration within the field is accessibility to adequate care. Telehealth can be used to provide real-time interactive video conferencing leading to increased access to health care for individuals located remotely or who otherwise have difficulty accessing services, perhaps through issues of mobility or proximity of adequate services. This article assesses the current status and feasibility of implementing tele-yoga for chronic pain. Methodological limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Managing professional knowledge boundaries during ECHO telementoring consultations in two Veterans Affairs specialty care liver clinics: A theme-oriented discourse analysis

INTRODUCTION

Consultations are the traditional method of communication between generalist and specialist providers managing patients with specialty care needs. Traditional written consultations have limitations, including inadequate clinical information and inappropriate, or unclear consultation questions. Teleconsultations minimize these limitations through real-time communication between generalist and specialist providers to actively manage professional knowledge boundaries about specialty care problems.

METHODS

We video-recorded 37 teleconsultation sessions, resulting in 115 consultations between generalist and specialty care providers participating in Veterans Affairs (VA) Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) liver clinics. Data were collected at two US sites across nine months to observe consultation communication among 33 primary care generalists and three liver specialists. Video recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using theme-oriented discourse analysis to characterize consultation question content and format.

RESULTS

Generalists' consultation question content addressed a range of topics, including treatment, diagnosis, interpreting results, patient communication, screening and surveillance, and care coordination. Some generalists relied on descriptive narratives rather than a specific question to convey complex patient cases. Consultation question format showed nearly even division between targeting general medical knowledge and specialty care knowledge domains, including specialty care, medical, organizational, and experiential knowledge.

DISCUSSION

Timely access to specialists through teleconsultation has the potential to transform specialty care delivery. This article examines provider-to-provider interactions to understand how the communication process contributes to knowledge management during teleconsultations. Video studies of health information technology use provide a rich opportunity for analysing real-time communication that may help improve cross-specialty collaboration and the coordinated management of patients with specialty care needs.

Development of a Sleep Telementorship Program for Rural Department of Veterans Affairs Primary Care Providers: Sleep Veterans Affairs Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes

RATIONALE

Primary care providers (PCPs) frequently encounter sleep complaints, especially in regions with limited specialty care access.

OBJECTIVES

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (VA-ECHO) program (based on Project ECHO) has successfully provided rural PCP education in subspecialty areas, including hepatitis C. We describe the feasibility of an ECHO program for sleep medicine.

METHODS

ECHO creates a virtual learning community through video-teleconferencing, combining didactics with individualized clinical case review. We invited multidisciplinary providers to attend up to 10 stand-alone, 1-hour sessions. Invitees completed a needs assessment, which guided curriculum development. After program completion, we examined participant characteristics and self-reported changes in practice and comfort with managing sleep complaints. We surveyed participation barriers among invitees with low/no attendance.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of the 39 program participants, 38% worked in rural healthcare. Participants included nurse practitioners (26%), registered nurses (21%), and physicians (15%). Seventeen (44%) completed the summative program evaluation. Respondents anticipated practice change from the program, especially in patient education about sleep disorders (93% of respondents). Respondents reported improved comfort managing sleep complaints, especially sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia, and sleep in post-traumatic stress disorder (80% of respondents each). A follow-up survey of program invitees who attended zero to two sessions reported scheduling conflicts (62%) and lack of protected time (52%) as major participation barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants in a pilot sleep medicine VA-ECHO program report practice change and increased comfort managing common sleep complaints. Future work is needed to identify objective measures of return on investment and address participation barriers.

Adapting the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to Create Organizational Readiness and Implementation Tools for Project ECHO

The Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model expands primary care provider (PCP) capacity to manage complex diseases by sharing knowledge, disseminating best practices, and building a community of practice. The model has expanded rapidly, with over 140 ECHO projects currently established globally. We have used validated implementation frameworks, such as Damschroder's (2009) Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and Proctor's (2011) taxonomy of implementation outcomes, combined with implementation experience to (1) create a set of questions to assess organizational readiness and suitability of the ECHO model and (2) provide those who have determined ECHO is the correct model with a checklist to support successful implementation. A set of considerations was created, which adapted and consolidated CFIR constructs to create ECHO-specific organizational readiness questions, as well as a process guide for implementation. Each consideration was mapped onto Proctor's (2011) implementation outcomes, and questions relating to the constructs were developed and reviewed for clarity. The Preimplementation list included 20 questions; most questions fall within Proctor's (2001) implementation outcome domains of "Appropriateness" and "Acceptability." The Process Checklist is a 26-item checklist to help launch an ECHO project; items map onto the constructs of Planning, Engaging, Executing, Reflecting, and Evaluating. Given that fidelity to the ECHO model is associated with robust outcomes, effective implementation is critical. These tools will enable programs to work through key considerations to implement a successful Project ECHO. Next steps will include validation with a diverse sample of ECHO projects.

Specialty Care Access Network-Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes Model Program for Liver Disease Improves Specialty Care Access

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To improve subspecialty access, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) implemented the first Specialty Care Access Network (SCAN)-Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) in chronic liver disease. SCAN-ECHO Liver links primary care providers (PCPs) to hepatologists via secure video-teleconferencing. We aim to describe characteristics of participants (PCPs) and patients (clinical question and diagnosis) in SCAN-ECHO Liver.

METHODS

This is a prospective study of the VAAAHS SCAN-ECHO Liver (June 10, 2011-March 31, 2015). This evaluation was carried out as a non-research activity under the guidance furnished by VHA Handbook 1058.05. It was approved through the Medicine Service at VAAAHS as noted in the attestation document which serves as documentation of approved non-research, quality improvement activities in VHA.

RESULTS

In total, 106 PCPs from 23 sites participated. A total of 155 SCAN-ECHO sessions discussed 519 new and 49 return patients. 29.4% of Liver Clinic requests were completed in SCAN-ECHO Liver. SCAN-ECHO Liver consults were completed an average of 10 days sooner than in conventional clinic. Potential travel saving was 250 miles round-trip (median 255 (IQR 142-316) per patient.

CONCLUSION

SCAN-ECHO Liver provided specialty care with increased efficiency and convenience for chronic liver disease patients. One of three of Liver Clinic consults was diverted to SCAN-ECHO Liver, reducing consult completion time by 20%.

ECHO Pain Curriculum: Balancing Mandated Continuing Education With the Needs of Rural Health Care Practitioners

Chronic pain is a common problem in the United States. Health care professions training at the undergraduate and graduate levels in managing chronic pain is insufficient. The Chronic Pain and Headache Management TeleECHO Clinic (ECHO Pain) is a telehealth approach at Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), which supports clinicians interested in improving their knowledge and confidence in treating patients with chronic pain and safe opioid management. It is a vehicle for educating practicing clinicians (at the "spoke") based on work-place learning with cases selected by participants from their patient panels combined with short lectures by experts (at the "hub"). ECHO Pain has designed an innovative, interprofessional longitudinal curriculum appropriate for individual and team-based clinicians which includes relevant basic and advanced pain topics. The specific design and delivery of the curriculum enhances its relevance and accessibility to busy clinicians in practice, yet also satisfies statutory requirements for CME in New Mexico. Specific features which balance hub-and-spoke needs are presented in this descriptive article, which is intended to serve as a guide to other clinician educators interested in developing or implementing similar telehealth curricula.

Osteoporosis Preventive Practice Between Veteran and Nonveteran Older Adults: Findings From Patient-Reported Data

BACKGROUND

Veterans are prone to bone-related illnesses due to multiple risk factors such as prior injuries. The aim of this study was to compare trends in osteoporosis preventive practices between veteran and nonveteran older adults.

METHODS

This was a secondary data analysis using selected baseline data and discussion postings from an online bone health trial including participants (N = 866) recruited from My HealtheVet (MHV) and SeniorNet (SN). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, parametric statistics, and content analysis.

FINDINGS

Overall, MHV participants were younger and included more men than SN participants. However, they reported higher rates of bone health issues, spent less time exercising, took fewer calcium and vitamin D supplements, and were less likely to discuss bone health with their care providers. More MHV participants discussed pain and disability as barriers to bone health behaviors and fear of deteriorating health as motivators. In addition, more MHV participants found that participating in the original study was helpful for changing health behaviors.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the findings suggest a disparity in bone health between veterans and nonveterans and a significant potential for using eHealth programs for veterans.

The Impact of Project ECHO on Participant and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) uses tele-education to bridge knowledge gaps between specialists at academic health centers and primary care providers from remote areas. It has been implemented to address multiple medical conditions. The authors examined evidence of the impact of all Project ECHO programs on participant and patient outcomes.

METHOD

The authors searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and ProQuest from January 2000 to August 2015 and the reference lists of identified reviews. Included studies were limited to those published in English, peer-reviewed articles or indexed abstracts, and those that primarily focused on Project ECHO. Editorials, commentaries, gray literature, and non-peer-reviewed articles were excluded. The authors used Moore's evaluation framework to organize study outcomes for quality assessment.

RESULTS

The authors identified 39 studies describing Project ECHO's involvement in addressing 17 medical conditions. Evaluations of Project ECHO programs generally were limited to outcomes from Levels 1 (number of participants) to 4 (providers' competence) of Moore's framework (n = 22 studies, with some containing data from multiple levels). Studies also suggested that Project ECHO changed provider behavior (n = 1), changed patient outcomes (n = 6), and can be cost-effective (n = 2).

CONCLUSIONS

Project ECHO is an effective and potentially cost-saving model that increases participant knowledge and patient access to health care in remote locations, but further research examining its efficacy is needed. Identifying and addressing potential barriers to Project ECHO's implementation will support the dissemination of this model as an education and practice improvement initiative.

Videoconferencing and telementoring about dementia care: evaluation of a pilot model for sharing scarce old age psychiatry resources

BACKGROUND

While videoconferencing, telementoring, and peer support have been shown to enhance services in some instances, there has been no research investigating the use of these technologies in supporting professionals managing clients with dementia. The objective of this research was to evaluate expansion of an old age psychiatry consultation service and pilot test a model to improve medical supervision and clinical governance for staff within regional and remote areas using remote information technology.

METHODS

The design was a mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) evaluation using before, mid-point and post-implementation semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to examine orientation, acceptance, and impact underpinned by theoretical approaches to evaluation. Education evaluations used a Likert style response template. Participants were 18 dementia service staff, including staff from linked services and old age psychiatrists. Qualitative interviews addressed the pilot implementation including: expectations, experiences, strategies for improving the pilot, and perceived impact on work practice and professional development opportunities.

RESULTS

There was high satisfaction with the program. The case conference process contributed to perceived improved outcomes for clients, family, and staff. Clinicians perceived improvement in family carer and staff carer stress and their confidence in managing clients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Thematic analysis indicated that the pilot enhanced professional development, decreased travel time, and improved team cohesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the increasing aging population in regional, rural, and remote areas, initiatives using videoconferencing and telementoring will help to develop a confident and skilled workforce. This pilot program was found to be acceptable and feasible. Potential benefits for clients and family carers should be examined in future resesarch.

Impact of a Telehealth Program That Delivers Remote Consultation and Longitudinal Mentorship to Community HIV Providers

Background.  To increase human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care capacity in our region, we designed a distance mentorship and consultation program based on the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model, which uses real-time interactive video to regularly connect community providers with a multidisciplinary team of academic specialists. This analysis will (1) describe key components of our program, (2) report types of clinical problems for which providers requested remote consultation over the first 3.5 years of the program, and (3) evaluate changes in participants' self-assessed HIV care confidence and knowledge over the study period. Methods.  We prospectively tracked types of clinical problems for which providers sought consultation. At baseline and regular intervals, providers completed self-efficacy assessments. We compared means using paired-samples t test and examined the statistical relationship between each survey item and level of participation using analysis of variance. Results.  Providers most frequently sought consultation for changing antiretroviral therapy, evaluating acute symptomatology, and managing mental health issues. Forty-five clinicians completed a baseline and at least 1 repeat assessment. Results demonstrated significant increase (P < .05) in participants' self-reported confidence to provide a number of essential elements of HIV care. Significant increases were also reported in feeling part of an HIV community of practice and feeling professionally connected to academic faculty, which correlated with level of program engagement. Conclusions.  Community HIV practitioners frequently sought support on clinical issues for which no strict guidelines exist. Telehealth innovation increased providers' self-efficacy and knowledge while decreasing professional isolation. The ECHO model creates a virtual network for peer-to-peer support and longitudinal mentorship, thus strengthening capacity of the HIV workforce.

Advancing the Pain Agenda in the Veteran Population

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides medical care for Veterans after leaving the military. The combination of multiple deployments and battlefield exposures to physical and psychological trauma results in a higher prevalence and complexity of chronic pain in Veterans than in the general public. The VHA and the Department of Defense work together to develop a single standard of stepped pain management appropriate for all settings from moment of injury or disease onset. This article describes the education, academic detailing, and clinical programs and policies that are transforming pain care in the VHA.

Development and Patient Satisfaction of a New Telemedicine Service for Pain Management at Massachusetts General Hospital to the Island of Martha's Vineyard

OBJECTIVE

Patients in remote areas lack access to specialist care and pain management services. In order to provide pain management care to patients remote from our center, we created a telemedicine pain clinic (telepain) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, MA to extend services to the Island of Martha's Vineyard.

DESIGN

Over 13 months, 238 telepain video clinic evaluations were conducted. A pain physician visited the island 1-2 days per month and performed 121 interventions. Given the novelty of telemedicine clinics, we surveyed patients to gauge satisfaction and identify perceived weaknesses in our approach that could be addressed. Forty-nine consecutive patients answered a 14-question, 5-point balanced Likert-scale survey with 1 (no, definitely not) being most negative and 5 (yes, definitely) being most positive.

SETTING

Patients on Martha's Vineyard referred for pain management consultation services via telemedicine.

PATIENTS

Forty-nine consecutive patients evaluated via telemedicine.

INTERVENTIONS

Likert-scale survey administered.

MEASURES

Questions measured patient impressions of video-based visits with their doctor, convenience of the visit, concerns about privacy, and whether they would recommend such a visit, among other items.

RESULTS

Mean respondent scores for each question were >4.3 indicating a favorable impression of the telepain clinic experience. Lowest mean scores were found when respondents were asked to compare the care they received by telepain versus an in-person visit, or whether they were able to develop a friendly relationship with the doctor.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest an overall positive reception of telepain by patients, yet highlight the challenge of building a patient-physician relationship remotely.