Project ECHO

CORH utilizes the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model to improve health care outcomes for rural and underserved populations through virtual learning collaboratives. The Texas A&M Health Science Center, CORH’s parent organization, is one of just 36 organizations in the world to be designated an ECHO Superhub by the University of New Mexico Health Science Center.

What is Project ECHO?

The Project ECHO model uses a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing approach where expert teams are connected with rural healthcare workers to share knowledge and experiences that contribute to better outcomes for patients and rural communities. In a virtual setting, hospitals in the program learn from subject matter experts and each other using peer-to-peer learning and collaborative problem solving to address challenges facing rural hospitals across the nation.

During ECHO sessions, subject matter experts present a short didactic presentation to improve content knowledge and share best practices on a designated topic. Following the presentation, a program hospital presents a related challenge to expert teams and fellow rural hospitals in the program who provide recommendations and support.