(9) Adapting the Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Educational Model to Support Interprofessional Education Experiences

Objective : The Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) educational model is an evidence-based continual professional development (CPD) framework designed to offer interprofessional healthcare practitioners an opportunity to improve care for diverse patient populations with complex healthcare needs. The objective of this proposal is to describe the process and preliminary outcomes associated with the successful implementation of an innovative Student Centric ECHO Series (SCES) educational model into a longitudinal, required IPE curriculum for Doctor of Pharmacy students.

Methods: In collaboration with the Indiana University Indianapolis ECHO Center, IU School of Dentistry, and Cultivating a Belonging Culture, Purdue College of Pharmacy has implemented the SCES into their required IPE curriculum for Doctor of Pharmacy students. The SCES is offered as a series of 4 sessions that focus on LGBTQIA+ Inclusion, Trauma Informed Care Best Practices, Serving Vulnerable Populations: a toolkit for equitable service delivery, and Increasing Accessibility through Advocacy and Belonging. All sessions are hosted live via videoconferencing software, with two sessions offered each semester. Each session is up to 120 minutes in length, with time allotted for didactic presentation and review of relevant information, along with practical application and case review.

Results: Analysis of results is ongoing, but preliminary data shows that after participating in the SCES, students had a significant increase in their confidence, understanding, and familiarity with their ability to support, collaborate with, and identify resources that can assist the LGBTQ+ community.

Conclusions: Adapting the ECHO model to provide evidenced-based education for learners appears to be a valuable addition to the interprofessional education curriculum of Doctor of Pharmacy students, and can help promote their growth in supporting and collaborating around the needs of vulnerable patient populations.