Idaho Capital Sun (07/24/22) Palmer, Katy

Project ECHO Idaho is having a transformational effect, according to Katy Palmer, the interim director of the program. "Utilizing the rising trend of telemedicine, the program provides an accessible way for healthcare providers and clinicians to access relevant information and best practices while earning free continuing medical education (CME) credits in weekly one-hour sessions," she explains. Since launching four years ago, ECHO Idaho has helped more than 3,100 professionals across 42 counties earn more than 10,000 CME credit hours. "Bringing together multidisciplinary specialists in behavioral health education, substance use disorder education, and infectious disease education, ECHO Idaho shares advanced medical knowledge through Zoom video conferencing sessions to provide rural physicians and healthcare providers the opportunity to learn about relevant topics from anywhere," Palmer writes. This year, the program offered CME credits to 20 family physicians for completing its Pediatric Autism series — an important milestone, given there are only about 170 pediatricians serving Idaho's 450,000 children. "Without [access supplied through such efforts], high-cost and limited continuing medical education programs will continue to push current and future physicians out of state," Palmer concludes.

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