Abstracts

Rationale: The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at the University of New Mexico (UNM) is the only epilepsy center in NM, which includes an interdisciplinary epilepsy team of specialists in epilepsy care. Despite the need for high-quality and coordinated care, many patients with epilepsy in NM and their caregivers have limited access to epilepsy specialists, especially, those with low income or who live in remote underserved areas. Primary care clinicians are generally unprepared by training or experience to provide the appropriate level of care needed. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an international innovative program that addresses lack of access to specialty care in rural and urban underserved populations. Project ECHO links expert specialists to remote healthcare providers through teleECHO teleconferencing clinics. Methods: The first Epilepsy ECHO convened in June 2014, (Child & Youth Epilepsy (CYE) ECHO), supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics to meet the increasing need for subspecialty epilepsy care. Once the CYE ECHO clinic model was recognized as effective for rapidly expanding access to training and patient care, the UNM epilepsy ECHO team moved to further expand access to patients of all ages. Our goal is to increase care access, extending geographically outward from a regional referral core, to provide comprehensive support that when necessary can include evaluation or treatment at a regional care center (e.g., an NAEC Level IV Epilepsy Center), thus forming a vital network of care and education. Each Epilepsy ECHO is a weekly, interactive, 90-minute program that combines case presentations, resolution of access to care problems, and a brief didactic session. Didactics and case discussions are guided by an epilepsy interdisciplinary team. Cases are presented by clinicians through teleconferencing (multipoint videoconferencing or phone). Patients are de-identified, although the video recorded seizure semiology, when available, may be reviewed after first obtaining permission. The Epilepsy ECHO team sends their final written recommendations to the presenting clinicians. Each set of recommendations incorporates best practice protocols and evidence-based resources, thus educating providers while enabling them to provide the best care possible for patients with epilepsy. No cost continuing medical and pharmacy credits are provided by the university for all attendees. Results: Our outcomes surveys indicate that regular participants in the Epilepsy ECHO are improving their clinical knowledge through case discussions and didactic presentations; and that their patients are benefiting from the telementoring service provided by the team. The UNM Epilepsy CYE ECHO model has already been successfully replicated in 5 states. Conclusions: The Epilepsy ECHO is: 1) an effective and innovative remote learning and mentorship environment for healthcare providers interested in epilepsy care, and 2) an important method for building a network to improve access to care for patients living in underserved, low resource areas. .It has been proven that Epilepsy centers with existing resourcescan utilize this platform to provide successful mentorship and education to primary care clinicians that attend . Funding: American Academy of Pediatrics