Improving Quality of Care for IBD Patients at First IBD2020 USA meeting
NEW YORK, May, 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to increase their long-standing commitment of improving the lives of those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) will host the first U.S. IBD2020 meeting from May 16th- May 18th in New Orleans, LA.
"IBD2020 USA is a critical meeting of some of the brightest minds who are thinking about both IBD and Quality of Care," said Corey Siegel, MD, Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Associate Professor of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth. "Given the nature of these diseases, Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients are particularly vulnerable to breakdowns in the quality of care. Our hope with IBD2020 is to bring together various stakeholders who typically wouldn't be in the same room, and collaborate to find the most effective ways to improve the quality of the care that is ultimately delivered to patients."
CCFA's vision for Quality of Care (QoC) is to have unified procedures for delivery of care for IBD patients, informed by all the stakeholders involved in the field of IBD including patients, patient organizations, providers, pharmaceutical companies and payors.
The meeting will address the need for development of unified standards of IBD care in the United States and improve upon already existing QI measures. The goals of this meeting are:
a) Invite established opinion leaders working on QI to share their vision for QI,
b) Broaden established investigators' view of the multiple dimensions that encompass QI research today,
c) Create a joint consensus document on the current status of QI in the US population with recommendations for improvement of outcomes for patients with IBD
"In addition to hosting this important meeting, CCFA has an ongoing national Quality of Care pilot program that aims to improve the quality of care delivered to IBD patients. The program is designed as a learning collaborative so providers across the country can work together to measure current practice, identify areas that need improvement, and improve the care that is delivered to our patients," said Gil Melmed, MD, MS, Director of Clinical, Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Since its inception, CCFA has been actively engaged in supporting research and support for the estimated 1.4 million Americans suffering with IBD. Commonly known as IBD, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically treatable but incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may occur anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis involves only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, fatigue and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease.
About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org, call 888-694-8872, like us on Facebook, find us on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.
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SOURCE Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
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