Tackling Gaps in Care for Women in Rural Ohio

In 2021, the Weitzman Institute partnered with Buckeye Health Plan and Ohio University to develop customized Project ECHO® programs to meet the needs of rural providers and patients in the rural Appalachian region of Ohio.

In March 2022, we launched Weitzman ECHO Women’s Health, which connects medical and behavioral health providers to a community of peers and subject-matter experts from across the state of Ohio, utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach to solve gaps in care for conditions that disproportionally affect women.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to highlight our faculty experts who dedicate their time to offer their most effective and promising practice methods during ECHO to prevent, screen, and treat medical conditions, including breast cancer, while enhancing health outcomes and eliminating inequities.

ECHO sessions have featured discussions about the significance of screening and referral for breast cancer and other hereditary cancer syndromes to prevent and detect cancer. The phrase “If you don’t screen, you can’t intervene,” emphasizing the significance of early detection, struck many participants after the Prevention and Screening session, which focused on breast cancer. Similarly, proceeding the didactic presentation on Reproductive System Cancers, participants reflected afterward that they appreciated learning about the “overview of the genetic impact” and “latest diagnostic information”.

The Weitzman Institute’s partnership with Buckeye Health Plan and Ohio University demonstrates the impact that multi-organization collaborations can have in meeting population health needs.

If you are interested in learning more about partnering with the Weitzman Institute to bring Women’s Health ECHO to your region, contact us today.