The Pulse | Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Beyond the Gut: Importance of Preventive Care in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Sponsored by the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning
“Preventive care is just as important as the treatments we use for IBD.” —Nana Bernasko, CRNP WHNP-BC DNP
Did you know that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases patients’ risk of developing infections? Unfortunately, many patients with IBD do not receive appropriate vaccinations because there is often a lack of communication between gastroenterologists and primary care providers (PCPs). Nana Bernasko, CRNP WHNP-BC DNP, assistant professor of medicine of gastroenterology and hepatology at Penn State, also underscores that there is a persistent “lack of knowledge on IBD preventative care measures,” as well as a lack of clear “responsibility… to address these measures.” What day-to-day, real-world strategies can you employ to ensure that your patients receive appropriate preventive care?
Penn State University College of Medicine (PS COM) and The Academy for Healthcare Learning (ACHL) recently released an easy-to-use guidebook on IBD preventive care featuring leading gastroenterology experts, Dr. Bernasko and Neilanjan Nandi, MD FACP, associate professor of clinical medicine at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center at the University of Pennsylvania. This one-hour accredited activity is designed for members of the IBD multidisciplinary care team. The guidebook contains practical guidance, as well as checklists, algorithms, and other visuals supplemented by video-based “how they do it” commentary from our expert faculty.
Dr. Nandi and Dr. Bernasko provide the latest evidence, as well as real-world insights on IBD preventive care. This activity will highlight:
- The clinical importance of appropriate vaccination in patients with IBD
- Strategies and tools to promote comprehensive health maintenance and prevention in IBD care
- Communication strategies to promote collaborative care among gastroenterologists and PCPs
Dr. Bernasko states that it is important for gastroenterology nurses to care about preventive care in patients with IBD, as it “can help reduce the risk of morbidity and costs associated with the disease itself, medications used in treatment, and [overall] improve the quality of life” for patients with IBD. She also highlights the critical role of gastroenterology nurses in this space but emphasizes that “GI nurses must first understand the importance of IBD-specific preventive measures and, in turn, help educate the patients to empower them to seek these services.” All in all, a holistic approach in the care of patients with IBD is critical. To help your patients with IBD stay healthy, access our guidebook today to learn more.
Examples of pages from the guidebook:
This program is supported by an educational grant from Pfizer.