Patient Abuse (Nov 2016—April 2017)
Being a victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation can impact the health of an individual. Many of these victims seek care in our clinics and hospitals. Recognizing and intervening on the behalf of victimized patients not only improves their health and well-being but also improves our ability to provide effective and trauma-informed care.
Immune Disorders of the Gut (June 2014—February 2016)
Digestive diseases affect a vast number of people in the United States, 60 to 70 million people per the NIDDK and NIH. In 2010 data was compiled by the CDC and noted on the NDDIC website that 21.7 million people of the affected individuals were hospitalized due to complications of their respective digestive disease.
Currently there is also a massive shortage of gastroenterologists in the state of Utah and across the Mountain West. The AAMC and Center for Workforce Studies completed a study that concluded that in 2012 “332 Physicians Needed Annually to Meet Increased Demand” in Utah, with gastroenterologists listed as a major component of this amplified need.
Fortunately, we are able to provide a gastroenterology service and resource for providers to develop and enhance the capacity to treat and manage their patients with gastroenterology conditions.
This ECHO merged with the Liver Care ECHO in February of 2016 to form the GI & Liver Care ECHO.
Identifying & Managing Patients at Risk for Cancer (June 2015 - September 2016)
The Identifying & Managing Patients at Risk for Cancer ECHO (Extension for Community Health-Care Outcomes) CME series was designed to improve access to knowledge for clinicians in rural and urban areas who work with patients/families at increased risk for cancer.
The program used teleconferencing technologies to facilitate an effective "knowledge network" intended for advanced practice clinicians, family physicians, and others providing care to those with a personal/family history of cancer to enhance their knowledge of genetic testing and screening for cancer syndromes.
OB Hemorrhage (October 2015 - April 2016)
The Utah Department of Health was awarded a grant from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) in an effort to address the third leading cause of maternal mortality in Utah—postpartum hemorrhaging.
The first aim of the initiative was to improve the maternal mortality review process in Utah. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) accomplished this by expanding their Maternal Mortality Review Committee to include guidance from multidisciplinary experts and incorporating a new case review form, adopted from the Ohio Department of Health.
The second aim of the initiative was to work with Utah hospitals to implement components of the OB Hemorrhage Safety Bundle. Utah used its grant funds to hold an in-person project launch meeting with staff from over 50 percent of delivering hospitals and then hold fourteen bi-monthly learning sessions on the safety bundle components via Project ECHO