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ECHO - Emergency Care in Healthcare Offices
Training Program
ECHO is the term we use for top-of-the-line emergency care training for non-acute healthcare settings. The concept behind ECHO is provide sophisticated training, equipment, protocol and process for providing emergency care in a healthcare practice. The treatments in the program are based common therapies from the science of emergency medicine, recommendations from major accrediting bodies, and common regional practices. The program has an specific emblem and product line associated with it. ECHO products are available only through Less Stress Instructional Services.
What do ECHO trainees learn ?
The ECHO program has a basic, intermediate and advanced level. Regardless of the level of ECHO program, the training will include:
Adult/Child CPR/AED Training: ECHO participants will learn adult CPR techniques. These are resuscitation procedures for individuals age 1 and over. Participants are also taught to use an Automated External Defibrillator. Traditionally we train participants on the specific unit they will use.
First Aid Training: The ECHO course includes management of injuries such as bleeding control, neck and spine injuries, and medical emergencies such as chest pains, altered mental status, respiratory emergencies and seizures.
Oxygen Therapy: The prompt application of emergency oxygen can often significantly lessen the damage done to patient during serious injury or medical emergency. The ECHO program reviews use of an emergency oxygen kit and the various components used to deliver the therapy effectively during a crisis.
Bloodborne Pathogens: This short self-protection inservice covers the possibility of disease transmission during occupational emergencies. Relevant concerns, protective equipment, and regulations are discussed.
Modulated Program: ECHO will also teach additional skills based on the level of the program selected. For programs with combined staff (where clinical staff such as doctors and nurses will be mixed with assistant staff such as medical assistants or clerical staff) the program can be modulated so that the basic program is presented first, the assistant staff leaves, and the clinical staff stays behind to learn the more advanced pharmaceutical and ECG interventions.

What ECHO program is best for my Healthcare Office?
ECHO is designed to fit different practices by adjusting to their goals, level of skill, and intervention comfort level. The table below will help you select from the various ECHO program levels.
ECHO Program	Basic	Intermediate	Advanced
Audience	Practices with low potential for emergencies	Practices with moderate potential for emergencies	Practice with moderate or higher potential for emergencies
Pre-Requisite Skills	None	Some office providers must be licensed to administer Intra-Muscular (IM) injections and PO medications	Some office providers must be licensed to start Intra-Venous (IV) access
Course Length	4 hours	6 hours	8 hours
Oxygen Capabilities	Fixed Flow with Pocket Mask	Variable flow with Pocket Mask, Ambu-Bag, Nasal Canulla, Non-Rebreather, Nebulizer	Variable flow with Pocket Mask, Ambu-Bag, Nasal Canulla, Non-Rebreather, Nebulizer
Airway Capabilities	Manual Techniques only	Oral and Nasal Airways	Oral, Nasal Airways King LTD invasive airway
ECG / Monitor Capabilities	AED with no screen	Screen AED with 3 lead adapter	Screen AED with 3 lead adapter
Medications	None (other than oxygen)	SL Nitro, Nitro Paste, PO Aspirin, Neb Albuterol	Several
Skills Practiced	CPR/AED Emergency Scenario Practice	CPR/AED Oral Airway Insertion Nasal Airway Insertion Emergency Scenario Practice	CPR/AED Oral Airway Insertion Nasal Airway Insertion KING LTD Airway Insertion Emergency Scenario Practice
Equipment
A properly executed response requires certain tools to be effective. An emergency is handled best when equipped with appropriate response gear. ECHO has a great product line that is consistent with the course recommendations, policies, and the whole concept of healthcare practice emergency care.

Laws and Regulations

The combination of MERT programs covers some important regulatory requirements for certain industries. For example:

CPR

Meets requirements for most environments for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Details

Bloodborne
Pathogens

Complies with CFR 1910.1030 - the 'Bloodborne Pathogens' standard

Details

Automated External Defibrillation

Most states require some nationally accredited training program for the use of an automated external defibrillator

Details

American Dental Society

The ADA recommends that Dental practices have specific products and medications available for use during emergencies

Details

Other Information

What types of environments is ECHO appropriate for?

The ECHO program is appropriate for most clinical environments - what level of ECHO program to implement is really about the location's skill set, comfort level, and aggressiveness of intervention. Here are some examples of the various ECHO programs and some typical environments you would find them in:

A BASIC ECHO PROGRAM is a good choice for any office that wants to be prepared for initial emergency care. Typical sites for BASIC programs include:

General dental offices
Most primary care and specialty practices
Outpatient practices such as physical, speech, and occupational therapy

An INTERMEDIATE ECHO PROGRAM is a good choice for a location that has the ability to provide IM/SC injections, and wants to more effectively treat medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis and chest pains. Typical sites for INTERMEDIATE programs include:

Dental offices - particularly those that provide sedation
Most primary care and specialty practices with good injection skills

An ADVANCED ECHO PROGRAM is a good choice for any site that has good IV skills, and wants to be prepared to aggressively treat emergent patients. Typical sites for ADVANCED programs include:

Urgent Care practices
Surgical Centers
Corporate and industrial medical offices
Correctional medicine practices
Dental offices, particularly those that perform sophisticated sedation

What does an ECHO program cost?

A typical ECHO program is relatively inexpensive to implement. The training program generally runs about $45 per participant. Other expenses might include various first aid supplies, an emergency oxygen kit, and an Automated External Defibrillator. You can obtain all of your ECHO supplies though Less Stress Instructional Services as one integrated package. You can see a list of suggested program supplies and their prices by clicking here .

You can even lease the product line with a yearly training included for between $60 - $100 per month, depending on the level of the program and what market you are in. Please contact us for details at 973-427-9692.

What retraining is required to maintain an ECHO program?

The most basic retraining for an ECHO program is to train in CPR every two years, and to refresh bloodborne pathogens yearly per the OSHA standard. We always stress however that emergency care skills are skills that require practice. The average non-acute office practice will not see enough emergencies (hopefully) to be fluent with their skills unless they are challenged periodically with drills, exercises, and lectures. Our ECHO Lease program includes a yearly training where participants relearn the basics of medical emergency management. We also have simulation software available of the internet and on CD-ROM (PC only) for less formal refresher training on your computer.

I'd like to discuss the possibility of starting an ECHO program - who do I speak to?

Contact us at (888) 277-3671 and ask about the ECHO program. We would be happy to discuss the steps involved in beginning an ECHO project in your particular setting. You can also request a specific rate quote by clicking here .