Tele-mentoring for primary care providers was associated with a decrease in hospitalizations for Medicaid patients with diabetes. According to a new study, primary care physicians and nurse practitioners who participated in a Rutgers Project ECHO complex endocrinology tele-mentoring program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) improved care for patients with diabetes. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) and similar tele-mentoring programs for health care providers are being used widely across the United States and globally to improve care for patients with a variety of conditions. Studies examining the effectiveness of Project ECHO programs have shown encouraging impacts on the learning and use of best practices by the health care providers who are participating in the program, but this evaluation is one of the few studies that shows promising impacts on patient outcomes. To read the full story.