ECHO Idaho participants are getting answers from other state physicians, nurse practitioners, counselors and pharmacists on issues like medication monitoring, pain control and breaking down the stigma of mental health. Each free session lasts one hour and includes a short presentation on a specific clinical topic followed by a patient case study. A social worker in Sandpoint might be working 300 miles away from a physician assistant in Salmon, but they’re dealing with similar issues in how best to treat their patients. We need all members of the healthcare team pulling together if we want to address Idaho’s critical needs. ECHO Idaho does just that, helping healthcare professionals keep up with the changes in practicing medicine without leaving the clinic. Our state’s healthcare providers continue to see the benefit. ECHO Idaho has connected more than 580 clinicians from all corners of the state — 76 communities across 37 counties — since the program began in 2018 at U of I Boise. It’s helped medical practitioners from Pocatello to Lewiston, Rexburg to Shoshone, find ways to best resolve their patient problems. What started as a way to help providers deal with the opioid epidemic has since expanded with a focus on combating behavioral health issues. ECHO Behavioral Health follows the same model, connecting rural providers with specialist teams for real-time collaboration. Doctors, nurses, social workers, physician assistants and other healthcare professionals have earned more than 2,500 credits of free continuing medical education through the program, a number that continues to rise with each bi-weekly session. Program leaders want to expand to other areas of medicine as well. This valuable resource has created an Idaho-focused approach to treating some of the state’s difficult challenges. It’s a continued benefit for both our healers and the rural communities of Idaho. |