Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a movement to de-monopolize knowledge and amplify local capacity that provides best-practice care for underserved people all over the world. The ECHO® model is committed to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations by equipping communities with the right knowledge, at the right place, at the right time.
Fundamental Principals of the Project ECHO® model are:
- Use Technology to leverage scarce resources
- Share “best practices” to reduce disparities
- Apply case-based learning to master complexity
- Evaluate and monitor outcomes via web-based database

ECHO® ROPE: Reducing Opioid use through Pain-management Education
Goal: Educate about appropriate pain assessment and management in the Medicare and dual-eligible population, by increasing referrals to interdisciplinary modalities to utilize more non-pharmacological approaches to pain management and increase patient/family and provider education on those modalities.
Objectives
- Analyze and monitor data on length of stay, readmissions, and adverse drug events
- Give examples of non-pharmacological approaches to pain management and when to refer to appropriate modalities
- Define best practices for prescribing opioids in older adults
- Educate patients and families around pain management
Curriculum
Learn key aspects of treating patients with pain. Learn more.
- Stigma & Language
- Screening
- Appropriate Prescribing
- Non-Pharmacological Approaches
- Trauma Informed Care
- Patient & Family Engagement
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Structure
Session run from 12-1:30pm every other week and consist of a 15-minute didactic presented by the Hub Team. Participants then present prepared patient cases, allowing for peer-to-peer learning through case discussions and recommendations from the Hub Team.
Continuing Education
The University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this live activity for a maximum of (number of credits) AMA PRA Category 1.5 Credit(s)™ per session. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Meet our Team
Hub Faculty
Julio Defillo-Draiby, MD
Julio Defillo-Draiby, MD an assistant professor of medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He serves as a Geriatric In-Patient Clinical Consultant for Care New England Medical Group.
Alexios Carayannopoulos, DO, MPH
Alexios Carayannopoulos, DO, MPH is Medical Director, Comprehensive Spine Center, Department of Neurosurgery and Division Director of Pain and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital. He is a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He has a national reputation as a leader in both interventional spine and pain medicine.
Caitlin Kennedy, PharmD
Caitlin Kennedy, PharmD is a clinical pharmacist, and the Managed Care Coordinator for Coastal Medical, a primary care driven Accountable Care Organization (ACO). Coastal Medical provides care to 120,000 patients in over 20 medical offices across Rhode Island. Caitlin has been with Coastal since July 2017. Prior to accepting her current position Caitlin worked as a pharmacist for CVS, serving as a pharmacy manager. Caitlin is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, and is currently enrolled in the executive Masters of Health Administration at the George Washington University. Caitlin serves as a preceptor for the University of Rhode Island, as well as for the PGY-1 pharmacy residency program at Coastal Medical.
Susan Wehry, MD
Susan Wehry, MD is Chief of Geriatrics, Department of Primary Care University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM), Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medical Advisor Sunrise Senior Living, LLC, and Consultant for Departments of Aging and Disabilities.
Maureen Marsella, RN, BS, CCM
Maureen Marsella is an experienced nurse and Certified Case Manager who works with hospitals in Rhode Island to improve care transitions and reduce healthcare associated infections (HAI). She leads the statewide Antibiotic Stewardship Outpatient initiative. She is the acting RI DOH HAI Coordinator for the state of Rhode Island. She leads a monthly HAI workgroup and a bimonthly hospital workgroup to keep hospital quality leadership, Infection Preventionists and Pharmacists up to date on CDC,CMS initiatives as well a QIO and state activities.