Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) was established by Dr Sanjeev Arora, Professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centre, and could deliver an estimated €20 million in healthcare savings in Ireland.
The European pilot hub for the project is Ireland and Dr Arora will lead on its roll-out across the country.
Initially, the pilot will focus on rheumatology conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. It will operate in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, under the guidance of consultant rheumatologist Dr Trevor Duffy.
It is understood that 20 GPs nationwide will be trained to treat rheumatology conditions under the pilot, which will reduce consultant waiting times and improve care.
“The volume of patients that could be diverted away from hospital services and managed to a high level in the community by a network of highly trained GPs would have significant implications for health spending,” Dr Duffy said.
The project was first established 10 years ago when Dr Arora set about tackling waiting lists for Hepatitis C patients.
He recruited 20 GPs in New Mexico and, using information technology, created 21 community health centres for Hepatitis C, which dramatically reduced waiting times.
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