Rhode Island Latent Tuberculosis Infection Project ECHO Course

Join us for our first Project ECHO Course focused on Rhode Island Latent Tuberculosis. Designed specifically with medical experts on Tuberculosis and members of the Rhode Island Department of Health for the unique needs of RI healthcare.

This ECHO course will be comprises of a Launch Session followed by 6 Sessions held monthly. Individual sessions begin with introductions from the Hub Team (the programmatic team to develop materials) and then the Spokes (participants) followed by short didactics, and ending in a case presented by a volunteer participant for open discussion among call members. Project ECHO is not a lecture series, but an opportunity for active participation and community learning.

RI LTBI ECHO Course Director:

Hub Team:

  • Daria Szkwarko, DO, MPH, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Kent Hospital
  • Anna Hippchen, DNP, Infectious Disease, The Miriam Hospital, RISE TB Clinic
  • Natasha Rybak, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Division of Infectious Diseases, Director RISE TB Clinic
  • Tom Bertrand, Chief Office of HIV, STDs, Viral Hepatitis, and TB at Rhode Island Department of Health
  • Jill Lamantia, Community Health Nurse Coordinator, Rhode Island Department of Health

Content Experts:

  • Daria Szkwarko, DO, MPH, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Kent Hospital
  • Anna Hippchen, DNP, Infectious Disease, The Miriam Hospital, RISE TB Clinic
  • Natasha Rybak, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Division of Infectious Diseases, Director RISE TB Clinic
  • Silvia Chiang, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital
  • E. Jane Carter, MD, Professor of Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Divisions of Pulmonary/ Critical Care

Curriculum:

# Date Topic Objective Presenter
0.1 9/24/20 Course Launch & Mock Session • Actively participate in Zoom call
• Describe the structure of the Project ECHO Model
• Familiarize with course facilitators and participants		 Daria Szkwarko, DO, MPH
1 10/8/20 TB Infection Background, Risk Assessment • Explain the progression of TB infection to TB disease
• Discuss the burden of TB infection in the United States
• Identify high risk populations that should be screened for TB infection
• Identify steps in the latent TB infection care cascade		 Daria Szkwarko, DO, MPH
2 11/5/20 TB infection diagnosis, TB infection testing options, TB infection testing nuances • Choose an appropriate test for various individuals who are high risk
• Describe factors or scenarios that can impact test interpretation
• Interpret IGRA and differentiate between Quantiferon and T-Spot
• Interpret discordant results
• Communicate to promote patient understanding of test results and adherence with next steps		 Anna Hippchen, NP
3 12/10/20 Ruling out TB disease, TB infection treatment options • List the important components of an evaluation to rule out active TB
• Determine individuals who may need additional testing
• List the options for TB infection treatment and describe their side effects
• Communicate to promote patient understanding of treatment and adherence strategies		 Natasha Rybak, MD
4 1/7/21 TB infection treatment considerations, treatment monitoring and side effects • Identify if and when to delay treatment in certain primary care populations
• Describe follow up and lab monitoring recommendations
• Determine if and how to restart TB infection treatment if an individual missed doses
• Identify the appropriate forms to complete for Rhode Island Department of Health case reporting		 Natasha Rybak, MD
5 2/4/21 TB infection in children, special considerations • List the options for TB infection treatment in children and describe their side effects
• Describe the process of monitoring children on TB infection treatment
• Describe adherence support and drug intake strategies in children		 Silvia Chiang, MD
6 3/4/21 LTBI Advanced Considerations • Review LTBI screening and management in special populations such as people living with HIV, persons with chronic liver disease, pregnancy, and patients on TNF alpha inhibitors/biologics
• Consider importance of directly observed therapy for 3HP
• Explain adherence support strategies for complex special populations
• Describe health center strategies for incorporating LTBI screening and management into primary care		 E. Jane Carter, MD

Click here to Register

Click here to view the Brochure

Already Registered and looking for course slides and handouts? Email ProjectECHO@Brown.edu for password and use this website to access materials https://sites.brown.edu/project-echo/ri-ltbi-course-resources/. The Password is also sent out in past emails from ProjectECHO@Brown.edu