BC ECHO on Substance Use – Opioid Use Disorder

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) is a global movement that is changing the way clinical knowledge is delivered and disseminated. This evidence-based approach uses interactive online education sessions to engage rural and remote health care providers, enhance competencies in a given health speciality area, facilitate uptake of evidence-based practices, and improve health outcomes for patients.

The Project ECHO Model is based on the premise of moving knowledge, not people. It has been successful in increasing access to specialized expertise and reducing geographic disparities in patient care, particularly in rural and remote regions.

The Project ECHO model was developed at the University of New Mexico, and it is based on 4 guiding principles:

1. Use technology to leverage scarce resources
2. Share “best practices” to reduce disparities
3. Apply case-based learning to master complexity
4. Evaluate and monitor outcomes

BC ECHO on Substance Use is a free, virtual learning community that uses an interactive, online platform to link health care providers to a core interdisciplinary team with expertise in the clinical management of substance use disorders. Participants meet online on a regular basis to learn from short lectures and case-based presentations. Participants are encouraged to share de-identified cases ahead of time and then present them during an ECHO session. Interdisciplinary experts and participants discuss each case and collectively develop appropriate recommendations.

BC ECHO on Substance Use – Opioid Use Disorder is one of the ECHO series offered through the BC ECHO on Substance Use. This ECHO series aims to help primary care providers and their teams to implement evidence-based approaches to the management of opioid use disorder and build competency in caring for patients with this condition.

The other series is the BC ECHO on Substance Use – Alcohol Use Disorder.

Opioid Use Disorder ECHO sessions are primarily intended to be a resource for primary care providers (nurse practitioners and primary care physicians); however, we encourage all care professionals serving individuals with opioid use disorder and their families to attend.

Opioid Use Disorder ECHO sessions contain practical, evidence-based guidance on a range of topics concerning the delivery of effective opioid use disorder care in primary care settings. The focus of each short lecture and corresponding case presentation is selected to address key knowledge gaps in this field and empower primary care teams to treat patients with opioid use disorder in their own communities. See the list of upcoming sessions.

Some session topics include:

• Decoding urine drug tests
• Practical considerations for buprenorphine/naloxone induction in primary care settings (traditional and home induction)
• Transitions between pharmacotherapies for OUD and between care settings
• Managing patients with co-occurring chronic pain and OUD
• Managing patients with co-occurring OUD and mental health disorders
• Special considerations for OUD in youth and pregnancy
• OAT and pharmacy

BC ECHO on Substance Use sessions are one hour in length. They consist of three main components: a brief presentation on a specific topic, a de-identified case presentation by a participant, and a collaborative discussion to develop recommendations to support the case presenter.

All you need to join the sessions is a computer with a webcam, or a smartphone, with the Zoom application downloaded. See our Connecting to Zoom Guide for further information.

You can sign up for an upcoming ECHO session anytime. After signing up, the Zoom connection information will be shared so that you can join the ECHO session.

The first time you sign up for an ECHO session, you will also be asked to register for the program. Registration is inclusive of both the Opioid Use Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder ECHO series. Registration in the program tells us more information about who you are and your learning needs.

All participants are encouraged to contribute clinical cases to ECHO sessions. Cases enhance learning for everyone and provide the presenter with an opportunity to receive valuable insight and clinical support directly applicable to their practice. To submit a case, please download the form and submit to [email protected]