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Project ECHO and Opioid Education: a Systematic Review

  • Substance Use Disorders (FG Moeller, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The widespread incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) has resulted in a national crisis. One component of this public health epidemic includes a lack of an adequately trained healthcare workforce to provide opioid case management, prescribing, and dispensing. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO) is a tele-mentoring, guided practice model, which provides knowledge exchange from specialists and subspecialists to enable primary care providers and clinicians to deliver best practice care for complex health conditions like OUD. Project ECHO is considered a promising strategy to address the trained healthcare workforce shortage, especially in remote and traditionally underserved areas.

Recent Findings

We conducted a systemic review of the literature to evaluate the impact of Opioid /Addiction Treatment Project ECHO programs on participant (healthcare provider) and patient outcomes. Overall, studies show increases in provider self-efficacy and knowledge gains after participation in Project ECHO. Benefits and barriers to participation in Project ECHO clinics are discussed.

Summary

Project ECHO for OUD is an effective telehealth practitioner training and support model that promotes advances in provider knowledge and self-efficacy. Further research examining evidence on cost-effectiveness, practitioner, and patient outcomes is needed.

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References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Funding

Vimal Mishra, MD

Opioid Learning Lab Project ECHO© for Virginia: Addiction Disease Management/Substance Use Disorder through tele consultative mode: Clinical Grant

Funding Agency: VDH through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CFDA: 93.136. SAMHSA States Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis: CFDA: 93.788

Funding date: March 2018–Oct 2022

Role on Project: PI

Connected Cancer Care: EHR Communication Networks in Virtual Cancer Care

Teams. Healthcare Information Technology Research.

Funding Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 1R21HS026075

Funding date: July 2019–Oct 2021

Role on Project: PI (VCU)

CDC Innovation Awards – Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke. Strategies to Prevent and Manage Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke “InnoVAte.”

Funding Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) CDC DP18-1817

Funding date: July 2019–Oct 2023

Role on Project: Co-Investigator

Innovative State and Local Public Health Strategies to Prevent and Manage Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke

Funding Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Funding Date: Sept 2019–Sept 2020

Role on Project: Co-Investigator

Simio simulation software institutional grant recipient to support teaching and research in simulation.

Principal Investigator: Vimal Mishra

Funding Agency: Simio LLC

Lori Keyser-Marcus, PhD

Opioid Learning Lab Project ECHO© for Virginia: Addiction Disease Management/Substance Use Disorder through tele consultative mode: Clinical Grant

Funding Agency: VDH through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CFDA: 93.136. SAMHSA States Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis: CFDA: 93.788

Funding date: March 2018–Oct 2022

Role on Project: co-investigator

Medication Development Center for Cocaine Use Disorder

Funding Agency: NIH

ID: U54DA038999

Courtney Holmes, PhD

Opioid Learning Lab Project ECHO© for Virginia: Addiction Disease Management/Substance Use Disorder through tele consultative mode: Clinical Grant

Funding Agency: VDH through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CFDA: 93.136. SAMHSA States Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis: CFDA: 93.788

Funding date: March 2018–Oct 2022

Role on Project: co-investigator

Award Number: H129W150002

Rehabilitation Services Agency - Department of Education

Grant title: Long-term training: CSPD

Role: Project Director

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Courtney M. Holmes PhD, LPC

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Lori Keyser-Marcus PhD

  3. Office of Telemedicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Bhakti Dave MPH

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Vimal Mishra MD, MMCi

  5. Division of Hospital Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St. 1st Floor, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    Vimal Mishra MD, MMCi

Authors
  1. Courtney M. Holmes PhD, LPC
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  2. Lori Keyser-Marcus PhD
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  3. Bhakti Dave MPH
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  4. Vimal Mishra MD, MMCi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vimal Mishra MD, MMCi.

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Conflict of Interest

C. M. Holmes declares that he has no conflict of interest. L. Keyser-Marcus declares that she has no conflict of interest. B. Dave declares that he has no conflict of interest. Vimal Mishra declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Substance Use Disorders

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Holmes, C.M., Keyser-Marcus, L., Dave, B. et al. Project ECHO and Opioid Education: a Systematic Review. Curr Treat Options Psych 7, 9–22 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-020-00199-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-020-00199-8

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