Weitzman Institute and Project HOPE Collaborate to Fight COVID-19

Posted: April 22, 2020

MILLWOOD, VA (April 22, 2020) – A new partnership between the Weitzman Institute and Project HOPE will bring tools and training to clinicians on America’s frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding from Project HOPE, a global non-profit dedicated to solving the world’s greatest public health challenges, will support two Weitzman Institute programs: Project ECHO® and electronic consultations (e-Consults) for COVID-19, making these critical tools available at no cost to safety net clinicians and staff across the country for three months. Since January, when it was one of the only international relief organizations on the ground in Wuhan, China, Project HOPE has been focused on supporting frontline healthcare workers around the world with training, personal protective equipment, and surge staff capacity.

Project ECHO offers a virtual, interactive forum for providers to receive the latest evidence-based information, share ideas, and discuss cases. E-Consults allow primary care providers (PCPs) secure and rapid access to expert specialty advice on COVID-19, eliminating the need for the majority of patients to be seen in person – extremely important while people are isolated in their homes during the pandemic.

“We are grateful to Project HOPE for sponsoring these important initiatives to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic using the latest on-line platforms,” said Daren Anderson, MD, Director, Weitzman Institute. “Now more than ever we need simple, efficient ways to communicate with our colleagues and patients and share medical information virtually.”

“It is critical that all healthcare providers have the latest information on prevention and treatment of COVID-19,” said Project HOPE President and CEO Rabih Torbay. “The Weitzman Institute has long been a leader in transforming the delivery of health care, and – by joining forces – we will improve patient outcomes by providing health workers with the necessary tools to combat the virus.”