Cases & Voices

In an increasingly digitized world, the intersection of technology and health has become vital for improving healthcare outcomes and increasing access to health services. Among these new opportunities is mental health, a critical area often marginalized in healthcare. We are sharing information about the strategic alliance between RENATA and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Colombia, and its commitment to strengthening mental health through the Digital Health academic programme and the ECHO care model.

(Source: RENATA)  The Digital Health Community - RUTE Colombia, structured by RENATA, aims to expand and strengthen scientific and educational cooperation in digital health, telemedicine, and telehealth, concentrating on five special interest groups:

1. Education and practice.

2. Lines of approach in health.

3. Digital technology

4. Ethical, legal, and financial aspects.

5. Services and attention.

This community is based on the experience of the Brazilian Telemedicine University Network (RUTE), and it focuses on the exchange of qualified information, the dissemination of knowledge, and the construction of new knowledge in the field of health.

Training and collaboration between health professionals

Within SIG, the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) programme has emerged as a novel approach to improving mental health in Colombia. The ECHO model uses telemedicine to connect mental health experts with primary care physicians in rural and underserved areas, thereby increasing the capacity to treat complex mental illnesses in these communities.

The partnership between RENATA and PAHO has been essential in implementing the ECHO model in Colombia. Through this collaboration, the alliance seeks to expand the scope of mental health services through telemedicine, empowering the network of professionals and expanding access to mental health training. Through the ECHO model, primary care clinicians are provided with the tools and support they need to treat patients with mental illness in their communities.

The ECHO programme not only provides training but also promotes collaboration among health professionals, creating a learning community where clinicians can share their experiences and learn from each other. This approach has proven effective in improving mental health outcomes and reducing disparities in access to care. The ECHO programme has started with two important pilots in the departments of Chocó and La Guajira, two areas that have historically been relegated in terms of quality health care, not only because of the poverty they face but also because of the conflict and neglect to which they have been exposed. For this reason, RENATA ECHO is working hard to generate a community that proposes solutions to the mental health problems in these areas and throughout Colombia.

RENATA ECHO impacting the university community

For universities, the opportunity to participate in the Digital Health Community - RUTE Colombia and the RENATA ECHO HUB offers several benefits. Members can collaborate and team up with other experts interested in mental health, generate innovative evidence-based solutions, improve their knowledge and competencies, and participate in decision-making that influences health management.

In addition, universities can play a crucial role in strengthening mental health care through research and education. Through participation in the Digital Health Community - RUTE Colombia and the ECHO programme, universities can contribute to the creation of new solutions and approaches to improve mental health in Colombia and across Latin America.

Mental health is a public health challenge that requires innovative and collaborative solutions. With the partnership between RENATA and PAHO and the implementation of the ECHO model, significant steps are being taken to address this challenge in Colombia, so we invite all universities and health professionals to join the RENATA ECHO HUB and continue joining efforts to improve mental health through digital health.