Project Type(s):
Clinical Research, Training

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability in Washington state and throughout the US. TBI increases the risk and complexity of multiple behavioral health conditions including post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, irritability, anger/aggression, substance misuse and cognitive impairment. In addition, TBI impairs a person’s ability to manage their health care and increases the risk of unemployment, long-term functional impairment, and caregiver burnout. Successful TBI recovery can depend in large part on access to and engagement in behavioral health treatment. Unfortunately, TBI-focused community resources are scarce and fragmented. Treatment of post-TBI symptoms often falls to community providers who have little support and are under-prepared to manage these complexities. This burden disproportionally affects rural providers who have little access to specialist care at academic centers.

The purpose of this project is to create and assess the use of the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model to provide education and support by experienced TBI experts to community providers who treat persons with TBI. The ECHO model uses both a virtual educational lecture series and patient case discussion to improve provider preparedness to treat patients and improve patient outcomes. We will launch a monthly to bi-monthly program that will train providers from a variety of disciplines and settings in identification and evidence-based behavioral health treatments, web technologies and mobile technologies, and provide detailed case consultation. We will assess the success, reach and impact of our TBI ECHO by collecting and comparing attendee experiences, clinical information and patient outcomes.

This project received two years of additional funding from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

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