ECHO-Chicago

In 2010, the University of Chicago Medicine spearheaded the use of this model in an urban setting with the launch of ECHO-Chicago, the longest-running urban ECHO program in the world. ECHO-Chicago leverages existing assets by bringing together community health centers (CHCs) and academic medical centers for collaborative, curriculum-based, iterative, case-based learning. Using video-conference technology, ECHO-Chicago provides “telementoring” for community-based providers in managing common chronic physical and mental health conditions. Unlike a webinar, participants and facilitators alike can see, hear, and learn from each other, fostering a more engaging and interactive learning experience. ECHO-Chicago series are guided by curricula that focus on providing providers with the knowledge and skills they need to implement clinical guidelines and navigate real-life clinical challenges, especially in under-resourced settings. As a result, providers are able to integrate evidence-based practice into care and patients are able to receive state-of-the-art care in their primary medical home.