Learn Intestinal Failure Tele‐ECHO Project: An innovative online telementoring and case‐based learning clinic

Abstract

Intestinal failure (IF) is a rare chronic disease requiring intravenous (IV) fluids or parenteral nutrition (PN) dependency for optimal patient health and sustenance. The complex care is best managed by specialized multidisciplinary teams. Patients who have limited access to intestinal rehabilitation centers often receive IV/PN care from clinicians lacking specialty expertise. An innovative videoconferencing project was launched in May 2019 to provide online telementoring and case‐based learning in IF. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model was adopted to provide education and virtual support via the Learn Intestinal Failure Tele‐ECHO (LIFT‐ECHO) project. Online clinics include patient case presentations, moderated discussion, best‐practice recommendations, and didactic continuing education lectures on IF‐ and PN‐related topics. Participation is interprofessional and international. Via knowledge dissemination and specialty mentorship, LIFT‐ECHO is expected to improve healthcare for patients with IF and transform care delivery by overcoming the limitations in access to expertise.

Use of teduglutide in adults with short bowel syndrome–associated intestinal failure

“…67 For example, the Learn Intestinal Failure Tele-ECHO project uses regular web-based virtual clinics to link specialist teams at academic centers to primary care clinicians and other nonspecialists in local communities to increase their knowledge and expertise in IF and PN and so improve patient care. 71 Although ESPEN guidelines recommend IVS as the primary treatment for patients with SBS-IF, early referral to specialist intestinal rehabilitation centers is also recommended to ensure timely treatment with hormonal intestinal growth factors as well as assessment of candidacy for intestinal transplantation in eligible patients. 72 As hormonal intestinal growth factors are the newest medical option for the treatment of SBS-IF, studies are required to investigate the cost effectiveness of these drugs in patients affected by the more severe feature of SBS-IF who may also be considered candidates for a rehabilitative intestinal transplantation.…”

Short bowel syndrome: Recognizing unmet needs

“…The online learning platform Learn Intestinal Failure TeleECHO (LIFT-ECHO) Project, launched in 2019, is one such attempt to fill this knowledge gap among community HCPs. 21,22 Such endeavors may also find use in clinical training programs and increase the awareness and interest of SBS by clinicians during their early stages of development.…”

“…Education may be provided in a multitude of manners, including online or local meetings, continuing education meetings and workshops, peer‐to‐peer networks, multidisciplinary programs, and clinical guideline development and dissemination. The online learning platform Learn Intestinal Failure TeleECHO (LIFT‐ECHO) Project, launched in 2019, is one such attempt to fill this knowledge gap among community HCPs 21,22 . Such endeavors may also find use in clinical training programs and increase the awareness and interest of SBS by clinicians during their early stages of development.…”

Towards values‐based healthcare for inherited metabolic disorders: An overview of current practices for persons with liver glycogen storage disease and fatty acid oxidation disorders

“…Interestingly, none of these European ECHO hubs/programs is regarding RDs. Important lessons can be learnt from ECHO programs in the RD domain, such as the electronic Genetic Nutrition Academy (since 2017), 29 the Learn Intestinal Failure Tele‐ECHO (since 2019), 30 and the TeleECHO program on rare bone diseases (since 2019). 31 With the appropriate funding in place, TeleECHO programs might help to improve future healthcare for RD patients and their HCPs.…”