HJNO Sep/Oct 2024

CHANGING THE CARE: IBD 32 SEP / OCT 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   mental health interventions, and dietitians can use these data to recommend dietary adjust- ments that complement medical treatments. Each of our providers’ knowledge domains and condition-focused expertise enhance their understanding of how IBD affects dif- ferent aspects of a patient’s life. This special- ized knowledge enables them to interpret data more effectively and contribute valuable insights into a collaborative care plan. For ex- ample, if a patient reports increased abdominal pain and anxiety through PROs, the gastroen- terologist might coordinate with the mental health specialist to address the psychological component, while simultaneously adjusting the treatment based on inflammatory markers. By integrating and discussing these diverse data points, the care team can develop a com- prehensive and individualized care strategy that considers all facets of the patient’s health. This collaborative approach not only ensures that each aspect of the patient’s condition is addressed but also fosters a cohesive treat- ment plan that aligns with the patient’s needs and improves overall outcomes. (See figure 1) Collecting and inputting these data points can be burdensome for both patients and care teams. Balancing the need for relevant data while minimizing patient and provider strain is crucial. The goal is to gather only the data that serves a specific purpose for the patient, payer, or provider and present it in a usable format. Providers must then document this data effectively to support care plans. Clinical informatics thus provides significant value in two main ways: by leveraging current and his- torical data for individual patient care decisions and by using aggregated data to evaluate and improve clinical outcomes at the popula- tion level. This iterative and recursive process of learning and refinement fosters continuous growth and enhances overall care delivery. Ul- timately, integration of clinical informatics into practice ensures that data-driven strategies are employed to improve patient outcomes and improve care processes continuously. Kenny Cole, MD, MS As you can see, these devoted clinicians are passionately committed to their patients. I can envision each one of them living up to Ronnie Lott’s description of a great coach from the Figure 1