Issue link: https://kusm-wichita.uberflip.com/i/1024595
10 Curry noted that the program required a significant time commitment from physicians around the state who participated. In addition to the 11 sessions, they were asked to devote five additional hours to preparation, evaluation and practice-improvement strategies. But compared to the cost and time involved in traveling to obtain continuing medical information, the no-cost ECHO sessions offering CME, access to specialists to discuss difficult patient cases and camaraderie with other health care providers over their lunch hour was a great investment of time. As for lending her expertise, Curry said she's game for "anything we can do to help rural physicians. There are just not enough chronic pain specialists in Kansas. Even if it helps just one or two, it's worthwhile." Each session also included a chance for one of the rural physicians to present the case of a non-identified patient, getting feedback from the experts in Wichita and Kansas City and suggestions from each other. "The fact that you can present a difficult patient is very attractive," Curry said. "The fact that you can consult with multiple people from different specialties is very helpful." Deckert is a project-management professional who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in project management from Wichita State University. She recalled that the physician who presented a de-identified patient at the last ECHO pain- management session was excited about the results. "He said his patient, who feels so hopeless in many ways, was excited that his physician cared enough about him to present (his case). He ended up with a number of suggestions he'll be able to go back and try." The sessions generate valuable connections between rural physicians and urban consultants, Deckert added, which is part of KU School of Medicine's overall goal of getting the latest, best practices into the hands of physicians across the state. At the same time experts are helping community physicians, Kellerman said, "The community physicians are teaching the experts about what's really going on in the real world, and explaining examples of best practices they have developed on their own." Kellerman noted that Curry led a team that developed management protocols for the Via Christi residency program for patients who have chronic pain and are at risk of developing an opioid use disorder. "She took it upon herself to develop and implement workable evidence-based protocols. I consider her a local expert." People need access to specialty care for their complex health conditions. ® Moving Knowledge Instead of Patients. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Project ECHO links expert specialist teams at an academic hub with primary care clinicians in local communities teaching experts about real-world, best practices. "Imagine if you're practicing in a clinic in Great Bend, for instance, and you're able to sign in and say this is my patient, and then you have a group of people in Kansas City and Wichita able to provide feedback and suggestions, and who give you their email and phone numbers so you can follow up. The process is actually a two-way street." Rick Kellerman, M.D.