The future of telehealth for patients with autism spectrum disorder based on the example of Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Autism – a global model introduced in Poland

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with deficits in social, communication and behavioural functions. It is estimated that 1–2% of the global population is affected by autism spectrum disorders, with girls and women still representing a highly underestimated group of autistic patients. Patients with autism spectrum disorder require comprehensive care and often have difficulty accessing high-quality healthcare services due to the shortage of well-trained specialists. Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Autism is a global program that allows autism spectrum disorder experts to share their knowledge and skills with professionals in local communities. The ECHO project is a mentoring model in which an interdisciplinary team of experts plays a supreme role and provides practical information to specialists in local communities. ECHO Autism is not a form of telemedicine but a telementoring model, where specialised knowledge is delivered to local specialists. Experts teach how to investigate and diagnose autism spectrum disorder as well as how to deal with co-occurring conditions in these patients. ECHO Autism is useful in meeting the complex needs of patients with autism spectrum disorders from their childhood to late adulthood. It provides the best possible care for these patients and their families, expands practical knowledge and awareness of the disorder, while reducing the inequalities that often occur in rural and neglected communities. The ECHO Autism model is disseminated globally due to its flexibility in adapting to local and regional differences in social norms and constructs. The model is now for the first time introduced in the field of medicine in Europe, with Poland being the first country to adopt it. The aim of this paper is to briefly present the ECHO Autism model and to announce its development in Poland.