Ongoing, Engaging, Proactive Care for People with IBD

There are 3.1 million people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the United States. We see 3,000 per year at the UCSF Center for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. While severity of illness varies, the disease is chronic and frequent monitoring and adjustment is required.

With our virtual care tool developed with the Digital Patient Experience program, we are able to engage patients with IBD and determine patient reported outcomes as well as standard disease activity scores and medication checks to see how patients are doing between visits. If there is an increase in activity, we can reach out to them and make an adjustment or order a test BEFORE they contact us with more severe disease. Ideally, this will lead to earlier evaluation by endoscopy and imaging, and less need for corticosteroids, hospitalization, surgery, and patient disability (work and family).

The virtual care chat for IBD goes through disease activity, medication dosing and monitoring, and health care maintenance. Eventually the data collected can be used in lieu of an office visit for the well patient. This would increase access for sicker patients and IBD patients new to our system. It will also encourage them to get the health care maintenance they need (dermatology exam, colon cancer surveillance, etc.) by reminding them of what is due. Finally, we will feature constantly updated educational videos on topics such as the COVID vaccine, IBD and pregnancy, and new drug classes. We hope virtual care will improve patient satisfaction, reduce severe flares, and still be able to reduce inbasket burden.

— By Uma Mahadevan, MD, Co-Director, UCSF Center for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease