Joining forces to develop a multidisciplinary care model in GI| Takeda Stories
Joining forces to develop a multidisciplinary care model in GI
Disclosure and Important Information: This article includes real-life patient experiences. Individual experiences may vary. This information is available to the general public for informational purposes only; it should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health condition or disease. It is not intended to substitute for consultation with a health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for further advice.
Ken Freedman, senior medical director for a major U.S. health insurance company
For Ken Freedman, MD, MS, MBA, improving care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is personal.
“Several members of my family have had IBD,” he says. “Crohn’s disease specifically.”
IBD comprises a group of chronic, progressive diseases that cause inflammation in the digestive system.1 These diseases can produce gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as other manifestations outside of the intestines in areas such as the skin, joints, bones, eyes and liver.2,3 They can also impact mental health.
Make no mistake, IBD is a complex disease with complex care needs. And Ken, who is senior medical director for the Southeast territory and a subject matter expert in gastroenterology for a major U.S. health insurance company, knows this firsthand. His personal experience is what drove him to join forces with others as part of the One x One Summit Series Coalition. With support from Takeda, this diverse group of leading health care providers, payors, advocates and professional organizations, as well as people with IBD and disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI), sought to develop actionable recommendations for a multidisciplinary care model (MCM) that could offer an integrated approach for patients.
“My family members didn’t have help from a broad spectrum of medical experts or social support. So, I know what a difference this could make,” he says.
The MCM aims to bring gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, dieticians, psychiatrists and others together to provide integrated, holistic care to patients with IBD and DGBI.2
Turning gastroenterologists into ‘quarterbacks for IBD and DGBI care’
Common IBD symptoms include:2,4
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Urgency
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
DGBI, formerly known as functional gastrointestinal disorders, include a diverse group of diseases defined by their symptomology, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional or chronic constipation.5 Common symptoms include:3,6
- Reflux
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
This symptom list is not exhaustive, and having some symptoms does not necessarily indicate IBD or DGBI. Consult your healthcare provider for any questions or concerns.
Ceciel Rooker, president of the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
One of the Coalition’s steering committee members, Ceciel Rooker, president of the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, believes the white paper will help empower providers to develop team structures that could transform patient access to holistic care and resources. This could improve both quality of life and clinical outcomes, while also reducing health care costs for patients.
“It will turn gastroenterologists into quarterbacks for IBD and DGBI patient care,” she says.
'We can achieve far more together’
Multidisciplinary care models are a tried and tested approach in other therapeutic areas, most notably cancer care. The One x One Summit Series Coalition hopes to mirror and develop these efforts in IBD and DGBI, advocating for the standardization, adoption and scalability of high-quality MCMs across different geographies and practice settings.
Ken, another steering committee member, says the Coalition stands to make a big impact.
“It’s hard for patients and their families to navigate the U.S. health care system, because specialist providers in different disciplines are often located in different places,” he explains. “This white paper addresses that paradigm head-on and will serve as an important springboard for discussions with payers and regulators about a joined-up care approach.”
Michele Rubin, BSN, APRN-CNS, who also sits on the Coalition’s steering committee and is associate director of the IBD and Colorectal Surgery Center at University of Chicago Medicine, makes a further important point. The MCM proposed in the white paper, she says, could also help individuals in underserved locations gain access to multidisciplinary care.
Michele Rubin, associate director of the IBD and Colorectal Surgery Center at University of Chicago Medicine
A desire to make a difference
What stands out when talking to Coalition members about the white paper and the impact a multidisciplinary care model could have is each member’s personal engagement with the cause. Michele, for example, has been committed to helping people with IBD and DGBI since starting as a nurse at The University of Chicago more than 40 years ago.
“Growing up as a farm girl in Iowa, my parents simply told me to ‘find your passion’,” she says. “I found it as soon as I started working on a GI IBD floor and saw how much patients were suffering, how they needed an advocate.”
It’s that same desire to make a difference that prompted Takeda to become a founding member of the One x One Summit Series Coalition. It’s part of our long history of supporting innovative programs that advance the educational objectives of the health care community and reflect our commitment to put patients at the heart of everything we do.
Brian Terreri, director, U.S. Medical, Gastroenterology
Brian Terreri, director, U.S. Medical, Gastroenterology, says he’s proud of what our company has achieved in partnership with the community.
“The white paper is just one part of our global approach to improving patient care. It’s an amazing opportunity to fundamentally re-evaluate how we care for patients with IBD and DGBI,” he explains. “And the diverse representation and collaboration of the Coalition underscores how important it is to unite our voices and elevate awareness of individual and collective efforts across the GI community.”
“We’re committed to helping advance the role of MCMs, driving conversations around unmet needs and advocating for the health of patients,” he says. “We’re excited to see how this initiative continues to evolve under the leadership of our fellow members.”
References
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. The Facts about Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 2014. Accessed on August 9, 2024.
- Schoenfeld R, Nguyen GC, Bernstein CN. Integrated care models: optimizing adult ambulatory care in inflammatory bowel disease. J Can Assoc Gastroenterol. 2020;3(1):44-53. doi:10.1093/jcag/gwy060
- One x One Summit Series Coalition. A Call to Action to Advance Care for People With IBD or DGBI Using Multidisciplinary Care Models. Takeda; 2024. Accessed August 9, 2024.
- Singh S, Loftus EV Jr, Limketkai BN, et al. AGA living with clinical practice guideline on pharmacological management of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 2024;167:1307-1343. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2024.10.001
- Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, et al. Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study. Gastroenterology. 2021;160:99-114. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014
- Ohlsson B. Extraintestinal manifestations in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review. Ther Adv Gastroenterol. 2020;15:1-18. doi: 10.1177/17562848221114558
