Project ECHO

Project ECHO: Autism

Medical providers across Alabama can connect with autism experts at Children’s of Alabama through a program called Project ECHO: Autism.

The program's mission is to create a virtual learning network with real-time access to autism and behavioral health experts in a structured environment to promote excellence in pediatric clinical care, patient safety and education for all healthcare practitioners and care teams throughout the state of Alabama.

Continuing education is available for each session. Providers can register by calling Charlene Rhodes at 205-638-9254 or email echoautism@peds.uab.edu. Internet access and a web-enabled camera via smartphone, tablet or computer are all that is required. Each session runs 90 minutes.

Goals include:

• Enhance clinical skills competence among health care professionals by increasing pediatric knowledge and clinical practice in their own environment.
• Assess community physicians’ readiness to care for autistic patients.
• Improve clinical skills and responses to unusual pediatric emergency/critical care situations.
• Establish local, regional and national partnerships.
• Promote learning in a safe, structured environment using technology
• Improve patient safety and quality of patient and family care through team building and clinical decision making using the latest in medical education.
• Improve teamwork, enhance communication skills and build team leadership skills among multi-disciplinary health care teams.
• Foster collaborative research and contribute to pediatric education in the field of autism and behavioral medicine.
• Enhance community awareness and involvement in the care of autistic patients.
• Develop innovative uses of medical care to promote pediatric health care.

Project ECHO: Autism Registration Form (PDF)

Project ECHO: Pediatric Endocrinology and Growth - Empowering healthcare providers through virtual learning

Led by Pediatric Endocrinology Fellow Shelly Mercer, MD, FAAP, and Board-Certified Pediatric Endocrinologist Gail Mick, MD, the bi-weekly virtual teleECHO clinics provide mentoring, as well as patient case studies. Each one-hour clinic pairs brief, evidence-based didactic education with de-identified case presentations to enhance learning.

All pediatric providers and staff including: pediatricians, family physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners, nurses and MAs are welcome to participate.

To learn more contact Michelle Coulter at 205-410-9162 or email endoecho@peds.uab.edu.

Specialist Support for Primary Care

Join your colleagues in learning more about pediatric growth and endocrinology by enrolling in an innovative tele-mentoring model of healthcare education. This model links expert specialists at a “hub” with pediatric providers and other clinical staff in local community practice as "spokes."

Project ECHO: Pediatric Endocrinology and Growth offers you, the provider, the opportunity to:

• Present cases and obtain specialist feedback
• Take advantage of convenient virtual learning
• Review evidence-based practice guidelines
• Gain confidence in treating patients with growth issues
• Become an expert in your community

Technology Requirements

• Use a smartphone, tablet or PC with a webcam to connect to Project ECHO video conferences
• Or, use your landline phone for an audio-only connection