Abstracts

Rationale: With the prevalence of epilepsy in the United States at 1% and 35% of those patients with drug resistant epilepsy, early evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment is crucial in the outcome of children with epilepsy. Access to comprehensive epilepsy centers is limited due to several factors including shortages of centers, access to these specialty clinics, and an overwhelming shortage of pediatric epilepsy specialists. Education and access to experts in epilepsy allow primary care providers (PCPs), teachers, school nurses, and other care providers narrows this gap.Methods: Partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Hospital with the University of Kansas were able to identify 5 sites to launch the first Project ECHO in pediatrics, with pediatric and youth epilepsy being the first specialty. Community physicians, teachers, school nurses, and psychologists are provided biweekly access to a team of experts in the fields of epilepsy, clinical psychology, and developmental specialists through the use of video teleconferencing. Participants provide cases for discussion along with a 20 minute didactic about diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of patients with epilepsy.Results: In a one month period, 5 sites joined our local Project ECHO where their practices get access to the Project ECHO team to discuss cases biweekly and learn from didactics. CME credit free of charge is given for the one hour sessions to participating providers. The didactic education materials are available on a shared drive to the participating providers to access for future references.Conclusions: Project ECHO (The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a tool to deliver the expertise of a level 4 epilepsy centers to the patients’ local primary care providers, which promotes early diagnosis, and proper treatment of patients with epilepsy leading to a better prognosis and outcome.