About

The ECHO® model was developed in the early 2000s within the University of New Mexico. The approach was inspired by the traditional grand rounds used in in patient care.

The model has grown into a sustainable learning framework which can be used across health and social care, in primary and acute settings, to promote change in culture and practice.

ECHO participants engage in a virtual community with their peers where they share support, guidance, and feedback. As a result, our collective understanding of how to disseminate and implement best practices across diverse disciplines continuously improves and expands. Read more about the origins of ECHO® or watch the video.

Guiding Principles

Amplification

Use technology to leverage scarce resources

Peers meet online to gain knowledge, support and insight in an “all teach, all learn” environment.

Best practices

Best practices - reduce disparity

A single (or sometimes multiple) specialist or subject expert delivers an educational presentation to the group of around 20 people or sometimes more in order for them to be able to replicate that knowledge in their practice and with peers in their own setting.

Case-based learning

Master complexity

To bring the learning to life, participants can bring anonymous cases to the session for discussion with the group and the visiting experts to gain more insight into complex cases or scenarios.

Data

Monitor outcomes to increase impact

ECHO attendance is tracked through the ECHO Institute data base to monitor spread while outcomes are measure using a mixture of quality improvement approaches and research methods.

Meet the team

Jeremy Keen, Medical and Clinical lead for Project ECHO

Jeremy is the lead palliative consultant for Highland Hospice with many years experience in this field following previous specialisms in breast cancer treatment and oncology. As well as playing a crucial role in our clinical governance and oversight of ECHO, Jeremy regularly talks to students at the UHI Centre for Health Science and is always on hand to provide the ECHO team and facilitators with guidance and training.

Kirsty Bateson, Project ECHO Development Lead and Knowledge Exchange Manager at Highland Hospice

Kirsty joined Highland Hospice and ECHO in 2019 following many years working as a health and social care practitioner, staff trainer and manager in community and residential settings. In later years, Kirsty developed an interest in digital technology for not-for-profit online and offline marketing and engagement (Martech) while working for a university in developing the young workforce in schools. Kirsty is part of the NES Digital Leadership Programme Alumni and enjoys returning to share her experiences with new cohorts; she is also currently studying for the PGD in Leading Digital Transformation for Healthcare in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh, as part of a NES funded cohort.

Andrew Howie, Digital Improvement Officer for Project ECHO and Knowledge Exchange Team

Andrew joined us after graduating from the University of Edinburgh with an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Strong digital knowledge as well as his visual communication skills gained from working on a digital art project which was displayed at the Edinburgh College of Art make Andrew a valuable asset to the team and our partners. Andrew is currently in the NES Digital Leadership Programme while working on many projects for ECHO, including implementing the new iECHO platform.

ECHO and Knowledge Exchange Administrator

Recruiting will begin shortly for this post.

The origins of the Scottish Centre for Project ECHO

Highland Hospice originally became an ECHO superhub to share knowledge throughout Highland to support disparate groups of colleagues to provide the right palliative and end of life care at the right time to people in their own communities.

The popularity of ECHO grew and we now cover many subjects which are not just limited to palliative care.

Following COVID it seemed like a sensible choice to develop a superhub with more reach as an arms length service from the Highland Hospice. The Highland Hospice still operates as an ECHO hub, specialising in palliative care and offering ECHO to other services in Highland.

We have kept the distinctive Highland Hospice flower in our SCfPE logo, as an acknowledgement to the origins and growth of the project.

If you’re considering setting up a hub, facilitating your own ECHO programme, are interested in attending programmes or have any other questions then please don’t hesitate to contact us