We are currently recruiting, training, and establishing training centers around the U.S. to support the AHRQ ECHO Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network. The training centers will launch this fall.
The Network will use the Project ECHO model as its foundation. ECHO is an interactive, case-based approach to learning based on adult learning principles.
Weekly training sessions using videoconferencing technology are facilitated by small multidisciplinary teams of subject matter and quality improvement experts.
Sessions combine short lectures that provide immediately usable best practices with case-based group learning.
It’s an “all teach, all learn” environment, where community providers learn from experts and each other, and specialists learn from the on-the-ground experience of community providers.
Training centers are pivotal to the success of this initiative. With the goal of establishing more than 100 training centers, the Network will work with the nation’s more than 15,000 Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes that choose to participate.
Training centers will be compensated for their participation based on the number of cohorts they operate and the number of participating nursing homes in their project.
Most training centers will be academic medical centers or large health systems. Both experienced Project ECHO hubs and organizations new to the model are welcome.
Other organizations, including specialty societies and provider organizations that are interested in serving as a training center may contact our team at ECHONursingHome@salud.unm.edu to explore participation.
Please note that this opportunity is only available to U.S. organizations.
The Network will provide the following resources to all training centers to support the rapid development and implementation of their ECHO programs for nursing homes:
While the Network has already begun recruiting nursing homes to participate, Project ECHO invites all training centers to contact and recruit local nursing homes that they work with to participate with them. Project ECHO will provide each training center with a list of nursing homes in their area that have already expressed interest in participating as well as a list of eligible nursing homes in the area to support their recruitment efforts. Training centers will be responsible for coordinating with other local training centers in their area and are encouraged to work with state agencies and associations to support recruitment. Each training center is expected to work with a minimum of one cohort of 30-35 nursing homes or as many as 200 nursing homes in six cohorts.
Project ECHO will monitor the program to ensure all training centers are in compliance with the contract, and provide follow-up support, as necessary, to advance fidelity to the ECHO model.
If you have additional questions after reviewing this information, please direct them to: ECHONursingHome@salud.unm.edu.
