The innovative telemedicine initiative Project ECHO is making new strides. The program links primary care providers with specialists across the country to provide education and consultation on complex conditions. On July 10, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced it would implement its own version, called the Specialty Care Access Network-Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (SCAN-ECHO).
We've previously reported on some of the strides the original ECHO program has made in treating chronic conditions, and the VA hopes to replicate those results within their facilities as well, said Robert Petzel, Under Secretary for Health at the VA. We interviewed ECHO program creator Dr. Sanjeev Arora for more details on the program.