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About Us

behind the scenes at beyond

NIMHANS ECHO is an innovative program that uses a HUB and SPOKE knowledge-sharing network, led by expert teams from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, to provide training and tele-mentoring to healthcare professionals working in remote and rural areas of India. The “Hub” and “Spoke” model links an interprofessional specialist team at NIMHANS academic centre of expertise (the Hub) with health care providers (spokes). Each ECHO session consists of spoke-led presentations of anonymized patient cases and discussion of the cases whereby the peers as well as hub experts provide advice on the diagnosis and management. This is followed by a brief didactic on a mental health-related topic. Using a smartphone app and multipoint videoconferencing, healthcare professionals are able to access live virtual sessions on a weekly basis, where they learn through case-based learning, best-practices, and web-based monitoring for outcomes. Through routine engagement that involves coaching and mentoring in teleECHO sessions, healthcare providers become experts and, over time, acquire the knowledge and skills to treat patients with addiction and mental health within their communities.

Your Dream. Our Mission.

We Are Beyond

The focus here is about “Patient-Centric”, “Peer-led”, “All teach-All learn” Model. The objective is that at the end of the Program, you can work like “Local Expert” in providing quality care.

During each tele-ECHO session, about 2 to 3 patient cases will be presented by the remote spoke participants through multi-point video conferencing. Following case discussion there will be brief didactic topics will be presented by subject matter experts of NIMHANS.

Each participant will have access various materials in the form of selected text book, articles, videos, power points etc. You have access to this for life long. 

We Believe In Hard Work And Dedication

This “guided practice” of case management strengthens the confidence and enhances the skills of the doctors/health professionals in the community. 

Patients also get the best treatment in their own community without travelling to a distant places. This peer led skill based learning helps to develop a knowledge-sharing network which creates in-depth knowledge, learning new skills and self-efficacy among the primary health care providers.

Impact of ECHO

We stop at nothing

The program initially focused on substance use disorder and has since expanded to include perinatal mental health, dementia, and general mental health., Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the program, with primary care physicians successfully screening and identifying cases of alcohol use disorder and providing care to large numbers of patients

Multi Point Video Conferencing

This model utilizes a weekly multi point video conferencing app to conduct virtual tele-ECHO clinics with community healthcare providers

Case based learning

In order to disseminate best-practices such as algorithms, guidelines and clinical wisdom for knowledge diffusion” by “utilizing technology to leverage scarce resources” and “web based monitoring to measure learning outcomes”. 

Multi Disciplinary hUB Team

The remote health care provider also presents clinical cases and seeks clarification regarding standard management from our multidisciplinary HUB team as  well as peers who have logged in simultaneously.

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meet our amazing team

The Faces Behind our Success

We Couldn’t Do It Without Them

Dr Pratima Murthy

Director NIMHANS
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Dr Prabhat Kumar Chand

Professor of Psychiatry
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Ms. Tejdeepika

Psychologist

Sanchitha D

Relationship Manager cum Stenographer

Srilakshmi Nagendra

Honorary IT advisor

Dr Shreedevi AU

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Social Work

Aurobind Ganesh

Honorary IT Advisor

Manjunatha B R

Relationship Manager

Kubenthiran N

Honorary IT Advisor

Dr. Abhishek Kumar Sharma

Senior Resident

Ms. Saee Shashank Patwardhan

Psychologist

Ms. Mahasweta Chakraborty

Psychologist

Ms. Rakshitha S

Communication Specialist

Ex-staff : Continue to Inspire!!

Dr Sumit D, Ms Jinchu S, Dr Mallikarjuna, Dr Shabina Sheth, Ms Roopa, D Udit, Ms Kanika, Ms Sandeepa, Mr Kiran, Ms. Shivamma, Ms Likhitha, Dr Madhupreetha, Ms Nidhi, 

Do you want to Be a Part of Project NIMHANS ECHO?

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Unlock evidence-based knowledge and get ready to engage in case-based learning with the NIMHANS ECHO Certificate Course

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