Weitzman ECHO Series for Ohio: Substance Use Disorders 2023-2024

Weitzman ECHO Substance Use Disorders:

Managing patients with substance use disorders in primary care

Program Information

This Weitzman ECHO Series for Ohio connects primary care providers, behavioral health providers, and other care team members to a community of peers and subject-matter experts from across Ohio to address patients’ complex health needs related to substance use disorders. The multidisciplinary faculty team applies a trauma-informed, harm-reduction philosophy of care to improve the care of patients with substance use disorders and their health outcomes.

Weitzman ECHO Substance Use Disorders is a no-cost, 12-month, 24-session continuing education series that begins on Monday, February 13, 2023 and is offered in collaboration with Buckeye Health Plan and Ohio University. Each one-hour ECHO session consists of a brief didactic presentation on key topics related to substance use disorders followed by patient case discussions, submitted by participating providers.

CME, CNE, CPE, and CEU credits will be provided for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and social workers, among others, by Community Health Center, Inc., an accredited provider through Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education.

Acknowledgment of Support

Weitzman ECHO: Substance Use Disorder is supported by the Centene Corporation and Buckeye Health Plan.

Target Audience

This activity is appropriate for the following audiences:

Primary care providers (MD, DO, NP, PA)
Behavioral health providers
Other members of the care team

Registration Information

Weitzman ECHO Substance Use Disorder is offered to primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, and other care team members across the state of Ohio or in surrounding Appalachian regions in bordering states. You should have received an access code if you are from Ohio or an Appalachian region in a bordering state. If you are from Ohio and have not yet received an access code or have questions regarding registration, please contact us here.

Where do I register? Register now by clicking on the "Register" tab at the top right of this page. Scroll to the bottom of the page, enter the access code, and then click 'unlock'. After you click unlock, a register button should appear. Click 'register' to complete your registration. You should receive an email confirmation that you have registered in your inbox.

The Weitzman Institute partners with local and regional stakeholders to offer state or regional Project ECHO programs. If you are interested in information on these partnerships, please reach out to us here to learn more.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to do the following:

Project a harm reduction philosophy of care into your treatment of patients experiencing substance use disorders and explain this concept to peers
Illustrate trauma-informed practices in the screening, assessment, and treatment of patients experiencing substance use disorders
Optimize the care of common co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions in patients experiencing substance use disorders
[For prescribers] Enhance clinical competence and confidence around medication management for patients with substance use disorders, including alcohol, stimulants, opioid, cannabis, and tobacco.
[For non-prescribers] Understand the importance and provide support for medication management strategies in patients experiencing substance use disorders, including alcohol, stimulants, opioid, cannabis, and tobacco.
Use motivational interviewing and other behavioral techniques to improve patient outcomes related to substance use disorders
Collaborate with community clinical and non-clinical care team members more effectively to improve the management of patients, including those experiencing polysubstance use.
Distinguish and address factors related to social determinants of health faced by specific populations experiencing substance use disorders

FAQs

What is Project ECHO®? Project ECHO® was developed by Sanjeev Arora, MD, at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and is a collaborative model of medical education and care management that helps improve clinicians' knowledge and skills to improve patient care. ECHOs are designed to be a longer-term continuing education programs to create a virtual community for providers and care team members to connect and learn from leading experts and receive guidance from peers and experts. This ECHO learning community provides mentorship and peer support, making this model unique and providing long-lasting impact beyond typical e-learning styles. Weitzman ECHO clinics are specifically designed to meet the needs of safety net primary care providers and their communities like providers practicing in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

How is each ECHO session structured? Each ECHO session consists of a didactic presentation by the ECHO's expert faculty and real patient case discussion presented by participating providers. During each ECHO session, participants learn skills and receive clinical pearls from the expert faculty didactic presentation and the case discussion and recommendations.

How much does it cost to participate? Enrollment is now open at no cost for the next curriculum year.

Who should participate? Primary care medical providers, behavioral health providers, or care team members who work in Ohio (or in an Appalachian region in a bordering state) are welcome to join and register.

When do sessions occur? This Project ECHO will occur twice monthly for one hour. Our kickoff session for the aging module will occur on February 13, 2023, and sessions will occur every 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 12pm to 1pm ET.

What level of participation is expected? Substance Use Disorders ECHO consists of 24 sessions in total. ECHO participants are expected to:

Attend at least 50% of sessions
Complete pre- and post- surveys
Submit at least one case for recommendations
Share webcams, when available
Engage during peer case discussion

How do I join the live sessions? Do I need any special equipment? Weitzman ECHO sessions are held virtually using the Weitzman Education Platform and Zoom Video Conferencing. Access is available on any computer with an internet connection. For instruction on how to how to join the live session, follow these Step-by-step instructions: Entering a Live Session.

How do I claim credit and download my CE/CME certificate? After the live session is completed, the session evaluation will be available right in the platform. Once you complete the session evaluation, you will be able to claim your credits and download your certificate.

For additional questions about this ECHO program, please contact Lorena Morgan, Education Specialist, at morganl@mwhs1.com

Activity summary

Available credit:

24.00 AAPA Category I CME
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Academy of PAs (AAPA) credit to physician assistants at its activities. Participants should only claim commensurate credit with the extent of their participation in the activity.
24.00 ACE/ASWB
Through Joint Accreditation Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) credit to social workers at its activities.
24.00 ACPE
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) credit to pharmacists at its activities.
24.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to physicians at its activities via Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
24.00 ANCC
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) nursing credit to nurses at its activities.
24.00 APA
Through Joint Accreditation, Moses/Weitzman Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute is able to provide American Psychological Association (APA) credit to psychologists at its activities.
24.00 Participation Hour(s)
If you are not able to utilize any of the above credit types, you are able to download an unaccredited Participation Certificate for your records.

Activity opens:

12/29/2022

Activity expires:

04/07/2024

Schedule

This ECHO meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 12-1pm ET. Below are the dates of the remaining sessions:

SUD Care Strategies - A Foundation for Primary Care Module:

February 13, 2023: Philosophy of Care
February 27, 2023: Harm Reduction Strategies
March 13, 2023: Stages of Change for Addiction
March 27, 2023: Stage Based Intervention & Motivational Interviewing
April 10, 2023: SBIRT into Primary Care
April 24, 2023: Team-Based Care: Care Provision Partners
May 8, 2023: Health Related Social Needs: SDOH
May 22, 2023: Trauma Informed Care & ACES
June 12, 2023: Integration of Care
June 26, 2023: Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Modality: Contingency Management & CBT
July 10, 2023: Continuum of Care and Transitions of Care

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Module:

July 24, 2023: Tobacco Use Disorders
August 14, 2023: Alcohol Use Disorders
August 28, 2023: Stimulant Use Disorders
September 11, 2023: Opioid Use Disorders
September 25, 2023: Mental Health Co-occurring
October 9, 2023: Reducing Risk and Harm in Prescribing

SUD Comorbidities Module:

October 23, 2023: HIV and HCV
November 13, 2023: Urine Drug Screening
November 27, 2023: Polysubstance Use
December 11, 2023: Cannabis Use (Marijuana Use)
January 8, 2024: Criminal Justice-Involved Patients with SUD
January 22, 2024: Pregnant Patients and SUD
February 12, 2024: Adolescent Patients with SUD

Faculty

Kate Berenson, MD, FACP, FASAM after graduating from Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine, I initially studied psychiatry before returning for internal medicine, and finished my chief year in 2018 as well as a HRSA fellowship in Primary Care Transformations. Although I love outpatient care, I wanted to study and develop treatment for substance use disorder and ironically, the pandemic gave me that opportunity. I completed my addiction fellowship at OhioHealth in 2021, and subsequently created the MAT program at Five Rivers Health Center, an FQHC in Dayton, Ohio. We combine peer support, groups and pharmacotherapy to address the complete spectrum of substance use disorders. We love it! Our program ties in primary care and infectious disease (Hepatitis C treatment) for the care of the entire human. I'm delighted to share perspectives and evidence in the Weitzman ECHO series.

Dr. Mark Hurst, MD has a rich history in the healthcare field. During his career, Hurst has held leadership positions in the private sector, public sector and state government, including as medical director and director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and medical director and assistant director of the Ohio Department of Health. In his state positions, he led efforts in suicide prevention, dual diagnosis treatment, trauma informed care, and addressing the opioid crisis. Dr. Hurst is board-certified in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry is a private healthcare consultant and is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University. He has been recognized by his peers as a "Best Doctor in America" on multiple occasions.

Tracy Plouck, MPA is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Ohio University, where she works to support the Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health. The Alliance coordinates a network of nearly forty organizations that partner to address various population health challenges across Ohio. As a part of this effort, Tracy works with local communities throughout the state to build mental health and addiction service capacity. Example activities include grant writing and administration, training and facilitation, workforce development planning, and project management responsibilities. From 2011 to 2018, Tracy was Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. During that time she also served as President of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and as Vice Chair of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center. For more than 20 years, Tracy held a variety of leadership roles for the State of Ohio, having served twice as the state’s Medicaid Director and also deputy director of both the Ohio Office of Budget and Management and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Tracy currently serves as a board member of both the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Delaware/Morrow County, Ohio NAMI affiliate. Tracy completed her BA at Kent State University and her MPA at The Ohio State University.

Dana Vallangeon, MD arrived at OACHC in the spring of 2019 as the new Chief Medical Officer. As CMO, she assists in efforts to lead health center clinical teams to the highest levels of quality and operational efficiency. Her dual board certification in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine supports her work with the OACHC Behavioral Health and Quality teams to continue the adoption of effective Substance Use Disorder treatment throughout Ohio’s FQHCs. A former health center CEO and staff physician for over 17 years, she has also been a medical director at a free clinic and at a substance use disorder/mental health treatment facility, along with an ongoing role as an adjunct medical school and Family Medicine residency faculty. She received her M.D. degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and her B.S. degree from Olivet Nazarene University.

Heather Bruno, LPCC-S, LICDC-CS earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Ohio University. Heather has been employed at Hopewell Health Centers for the past eight years providing direct clinical care to clients who have co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns, with a focus on clients involved in the court system. She is currently the Chemical Dependency Services Supervisor where she provides both direct care to a small caseload of clients as well as provides supervision of case management staff and supervises Our House, a 5-bed men's recovery house, in Logan, OH. Heather has been involved in innovative programs addressing substance use concerns including Rapid Access, recovering housing, and Project HOPE, as well as, coordinates mental health services with the Hocking County Municipal Court drug court programs.

Weitzman Institute Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of the Weitzman Institute to ensure that Continuing Education (CE) activities are independent and free of commercial bias. To ensure educational content is objective, balanced, and guarantee content presented is in the best interest of its learners' and the public, the Weitzman Institute requires that everyone in a position to control educational content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples can be found at accme.org.

Faculty participating in a Weitzman Institute-sponsored activity must disclose to the planning committee and audience all financial or other relationship(s) with ineligible companies.