Embracing the Power of Show-Me ECHO Learning Communities to Transform Clinical Practice in Missouri.

Show-Me ECHO, a state-funded project, provides access to education within a community of learners in order to optimize healthcare for the citizens of Missouri. Through videoconferencing and case-based review, ECHO shifts professional development from learning about medical problems in isolation to experiential learning as part of a multidisciplinary team. The establishment of a statewide COVID-19 ECHO is allowing a rapid response to this novel, unprecedented, and unanticipated health care crisis. There are many ongoing opportunities for clinicians from across the state to join a Show-Me ECHO learning community as a means to elevate their practice and improve ability to respond amidst a constantly evolving health care environment.

Building Regional Expertise: Perspectives from Show-Me ECHO Participants.

This article highlights four primary care providers that practice in underserved areas in Missouri. Show-Me ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) provides colleagues opportunities for consultation and Continuing Medical Education (CME) around particular conditions. Through their participation, these providers have 1) enhanced their comfort and skill in diagnosis and treatment, 2) become important regional resources for patients and other providers, and 3) improved access to specialty services in their community.

Telehealth and Telemedicine in Missouri.

Missouri is a national leader in telemedicine, and the Missouri Telehealth Network has led operational, legal and regulatory, and research and evaluation efforts since 1994. Telehealth and telemedicine have the potential to increase access to and efficiency of healthcare delivery, improve quality, and improve patient outcomes. Coverage and reimbursement rules vary by regulator, and Missouri enjoys a broad statutory definition of telehealth coverage and reimbursement parity (no distinction between in-person and telehealth services).