Program status: The UCSF Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care ECHO Program is currently paused. We are not enrolling new participants at this time. Please check this page for future updates.
The Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care ECHO Program is a collaboration between the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center and the Alzheimer's Association. The program uses the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model to connect primary care teams with dementia specialists through virtual, case-based learning designed to strengthen the diagnosis, treatment, and management of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Project ECHO is a telementoring model developed at the University of New Mexico that expands access to specialty expertise by connecting community-based health care professionals with multidisciplinary experts through videoconferencing, case discussions, and collaborative learning.
Program overview
Purpose
The program is designed to strengthen the ability of primary care providers to diagnose, manage, and support people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Structure
The free, six-month program features virtual sessions every other week. Each session included:
- A brief educational presentation on dementia-related topics, such as dementia biology, care planning, and managing behavioral symptoms.
- Case-based discussions in which participants presented de-identified patient cases and received guidance from dementia specialists.
- Interactive group consultation and peer learning.
Participants
The program welcomes multidisciplinary primary care teams, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other health care professionals. Individual providers and clinic teams were encouraged to participate.
Key features
- Interactive learning: Sessions are modeled after clinical rounds, encouraging collaboration between community providers and multidisciplinary dementia specialists.
- Comprehensive curriculum: Topics include early detection and diagnosis, communication with patients and care partners, care planning, and management of dementia-related symptoms.
- Expert faculty: Sessions are led by specialists from the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center and the Alzheimer's Association.
- Educational resources: Participants receive evidence-based educational materials and are eligible to earn continuing education credit at no cost.
Program impact
Since its launch in 2021, the program has helped health care professionals expand their knowledge of person-centered dementia care and improve access to specialty expertise within their communities.
Learn more
For information about current Alzheimer's Association ECHO programs and future training opportunities, visit the Alzheimer's Association's ECHO Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Program.
If you have questions about the UCSF Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care ECHO Program, please contact Chloe France, MSW, at [email protected].