Project ECHO Diabetes Cost Modeling to Support the Replication and Expansion of Tele-mentoring Programs in Non-research Settings

Abstract

Introduction: Project ECHO Diabetes is a teleeducation learning model for primary care providers (PCPs) seeking to improve care for patients with diabetes from marginalized communities. Project ECHO Diabetes utilized expert ''hub'' teams comprising endocrinologists, dieticians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers and ''spokes'' consisting of PCPs and their patients with diabetes. This Project ECHO Diabetes model provided diabetes support coaches to provide additional support to patients. We sought to estimate the costs of operating a Project ECHO Diabetes hub, inclusive of diabetes support coach costs. Methods: Data from Project ECHO Diabetes from June 2021 to June 2022 and wages from national databases were used to estimate hub and diabetes support coach costs to operate a 6-month, 24-session Project ECHO Diabetes Project ECHO Diabetes Research Team members' names are listed in the ''Acknowledgement'' section.