5066 Evolution And Evaluation Of A Longitudinal ECHO Program In Transgender Health

Abstract Disclosure: M.S. Rothman: None. A. Chippone: None. A. Clark: None. D. Saxon: None. D. Miller: None. K. Young: None. S.J. Iwamoto: None. Background: Providers often report a lack of training in the care of transgender and gender diverse(TGD) patients. Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes(ECHO) programs have been developed around the world as a form of tele-mentoring. As gender-affirming care bans rise in the US, it is crucial for providers to have access to education in TGD patient health. ECHO Colorado(CO) launched “Comprehensive Care for Transgender Patients” in 2020 as an ongoing live monthly series for providers interested in improving care for TGD patients. Design/Methods: 40 sessions were held between 2/2020-9/2023. Topics spanned mental health, medical, and surgical care with didactic presentations followed by case discussions. Demographic data was collected at registration via Connect, an online portal, and evaluations were conducted quarterly using Qualtrics. Not all questions were required. Participants attending at least one session in the quarter were eligible to complete the survey. With multiple responses, the most recent survey was used in the analysis. Results: 257 individuals participated in at least one session. 164/255 (64.3%) respondents identified as clinical health care providers. The majority of the remainder identified as: behavior health professional(n=28), other(n=23) or health outreach/admin(n=17). Most participants (79.4%) practice in CO and the majority provide direct care for underserved populations. 110 attendees responded to at least one survey. 96% of all participants reported improved understanding of the subject matter. Of the prescribing providers, 80%(60/75) rated themselves as comfortable with continuing and 68%(51/75) were comfortable with initiating hormone therapy. In the most recent quarter, participants were asked to self-report levels of professional isolation before and after the series. 30%(8/27) reported feeling very or extremely isolated prior, while none(0/27) reported this since participating. Common barriers reported were obstacles to implementing care and scheduling conflicts preventing attendance. Conclusion: Participants with a variety of backgrounds are highly satisfied with this longitudinal program. ECHO learning may combat feelings of professional isolation. The majority of providers report comfort with initiating and providing hormone therapy, but future efforts should seek ways to improve comfort, competency and examine asynchronous educational opportunities. Interest from attendees outside of CO supports a need for a national collaborative of TGD focused ECHOs. Presentation: 6/1/2024