KKI-NECT: The Efficacy of a Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Tele-Education Program for Paediatric Primary Care Clinicians and its Adaptations during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Background: There is a worldwide crisis in the ability to meet the needs of children with developmental, behavioral and mental health disorders. This is the consequence of a quickly rising prevalence of these disorders, a workforce shortage of pediatric subspecialists, and an underprepared general pediatric workforce. This crisis has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Objective: The Kennedy Krieger Institute Network for Early Childhood Tele-Education (KKI-NECT) aims to prepare the primary care workforce to manage a vulnerable population of children with developmental and behavioral disorders with the training they require to identify and manage these disorders and their exacerbations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Methods: KKI-NECT, funded by a federal rural telehealth grant, is an ECHO hub and spoke model. KKI-NECT combines case-based and didactic learning in a longitudinal CME program for paediatric primary care clinicians (PPCCs) through weekly videoconferencing. This session will report on syllabus changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic and on the complexity of cases presented by participants. Program efficacy measured by changes in participants’ knowledge, confidence and medical practice will be reported.

Results: To date, this program has held 134 sessions and provided training to 61 PPCCs at 29 organizations. The cases presented by PPCCs were complex; 76% had co-occurring developmental, behavioral or emotional health diagnoses, and 69% had at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). Participants reported positive shifts in their confidence and practice management for their patients with disorders of development and behavior.

Conclusion: PPCCs are increasingly caring for children with ACEs, neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders, and co-occurring conditions.The ECHO model appears to be an effective strategy for guiding PPCCs to independently identify and manage neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders, particularly during this pandemic. KKI-NECT provides an effective solution to the pediatric subspecialty workforce shortage in rural and underserved areas.