About ECHO OBN
ECHO Ontario Bariatric Network (ECHO OBN) is a provincial knowledge-sharing initiative that supports clinicians involved in obesity and bariatric care.
As an Ontario bariatric education network, ECHO OBN connects healthcare professionals across Ontario with multidisciplinary teams from Bariatric Centres of Excellence.
It creates an interactive learning environment where practical expertise can be shared and applied directly in clinical practice.
The ECHO Model
Originating from the University of New Mexico (UNM), Project ECHO® is an evidence-based model designed to improve access to care and build healthcare capacity.
Using telemedicine technology, the ECHO model connects specialists with community providers to share expertise and support better patient outcomes.
Goals of Project ECHO
- Use telemedicine technology to leverage scarce healthcare resources
- Share best practices and reduce variation in care
- Develop specialty expertise among primary care providers
Ontario Bariatric Network
The Ontario Bariatric Network (OBN) was established in 2009 as part of the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Bariatric Services Strategy. It includes:
- Bariatric Centres of Excellence
- Regional Assessment and Treatment Centres
- Surgical sites across Ontario
The network focuses on:
- Innovation
- Evidence-based practice
- Research
- Standardization of care
The goal is to reduce the burden of obesity and obesity-related disease across the province.
Bariatric Centres of Excellence
ECHO OBN operates through leading centres across Ontario, including:
