The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) implemented a national Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Zika through a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The project launched in February 2017 and was funded through December 2018.

The AAP leveraged the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) modelTM to rapidly respond to the emerging Zika crisis in high risk areas, including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa by establishing and utilizing an international multidisciplinary expert group to guide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, management and support for children and their families affected by congenital Zika virus infection. The AAP Project ECHO® Zika aimed to increase pediatric clinician knowledge, comfort, and competence in providing care to children and their families affected by the Zika virus by increasing the clinical expertise of pediatric clinicians to more appropriately provide family-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, and culturally effective care in the context of a medical home for infants and families affected by the Zika virus. When Project ECHO Zika began, no network existed which linked primary care clinicians caring for infants with confirmed or possible CZS to specialists with experience in managing infants and children with similar conditions.

Through this project, the AAP, in collaboration with federal agencies, key partner organizations, and family representatives, worked hand-in-hand to ensure the healthcare system is prepared for future public health emergencies, leveraging the ECHO model approach and technology to respond quickly and offer clinician education and outreach.

Curriculum

The Advisory Committee and Faculty developed a standardized curriculum with the flexibility to evolve as new information becomes available. The following content/modules were available nationally over the course of the project.

• Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome and Seizures | Slides (English​​)
  
• Zika Virus History and Incidence | Slides (English,​ Spanish) | Watch Now​!
  
• Congenital Abnormalities | Slides (English) ​
  
• Psychosocial Support​​​​ | Slides (English)
  
• Early Interventions and Community Resources | Slides (English​) | Watch Now!​
  
• CDC Updates: Testing, Guidance and Surveillance | Slides (English​)
  
• Congenital Contractures and Hypertonicity | Slides (En​glish​)
  
• Zika Virus Incidence: March 2018 Update | Slides (English​​)
  
• Routes of Transmission and Possible Outcomes | Slides (English​​​)
  
• Clues to Diagnose Clinically Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika | Slides (English​​​​)
  
• Imaging the Brain of Infants and Children: Congenital Zika Syndrome| Slides (English​​​)​
  
• ​Ocular Manifestations of Congenital Zika Syndrome | Slides (English​)
  
• Testing and Diagnostics | Slides ​(English​​)​​​
  
• Zika Virus and Pregnancy | Slides (English​)​​
• Psychosocial Resources | Slides (English​)
  
• Follow-up Care for Infants and Children Affected by Zika Virus | Slides (English​​)​
  
• Updated Interim Guidance for the Diagnosis, Evaluation and Management of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection | Slides (English​)