Care Coordination and Proactive Care to Improve Utilization of Resources and Reduce Expenditure in High Risk Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patients (CAPTURE IBD)

Care Coordination and Proactive Care to Improve Utilization of Resources and Reduce Expenditure in High Risk Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patients

Care Coordination and Proactive Care to Improve Utilization of Resources and Reduce Expenditure in High Risk Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patients

The study team performed a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a care coordination intervention composed of proactive symptom monitoring and algorithm-based triggers to improve patient reported outcomes (PROs) and healthcare expenditures for high-risk patients with IBD. Enrolled patients with IBD were randomized to proactive symptom monitoring with the support of a care coordinator or usual care.

Blinding of participants was not possible because telephone visits were only offered to participants in the intervention arm. Investigators were blinded to the randomization order, but patients, staff, and providers were not blinded to arm assignment. The investigators who validated the data and performed the data analysis remained blinded to patient group assignment.

Patients were assigned an IBD-focused care coordinator who facilitated a symptom-based monitoring algorithm and supported patient navigation to complement usual care.

Participants in the usual care arm underwent symptom monitoring through regular push notifications to participants to complete a validated PRO instrument through the Epic EMR patient portal or telephone. These notifications were scheduled on a monthly basis. Results of the monthly PRO instrument were available to their treating IBD doctor with interventions at their discretion.

To explore whether our usual care arm was influenced by the monthly PRO measurements required for examination of our primary outcome, we compared IBD charges, total charges, ED visits, hospitalizations, and medication utilization at 12 months in the usual care arm to a passive control arm consisting of patients who met eligibility criteria, but were not enrolled in the intervention or usual care arms.

Patients randomized to the intervention arm were assigned an IBD-focused care coordinator who facilitated a symptom-based monitoring algorithm and supported patient navigation to complement usual care. Symptom monitoring was facilitated through regular push notifications to participants to complete a validated PRO instrument through the Epic EMR patient portal or telephone. These notifications were scheduled on a monthly basis. The IBD-focused care coordinator made two attempts to reach each participant using portal messaging, followed by a phone call to reduce non-response. PRO questionnaires were reviewed by the care coordinator and out of range scores triggered algorithm-based recommendations to the IBD specialist including stricter monitoring of disease activity, behavioral and medication adherence counseling, facilitation of expedited follow-up with treating providers, and referrals to social work, mental health, and gastroenterology-specific behavioral health services.

Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) measurements were administered on a monthly basis. The validated Crohn's (CD)-PRO or ulcerative colitis (UC)-PRO were used according to the patient's IBD type (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis). Both the CD-PRO and UC-PRO are a set of standardized and validated instruments based on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index and Mayo Clinic Score respectively, which includes six domains: daily bowel movements, functional symptoms, systemic symptoms, daily coping, weekly life impact, and weekly emotional impact. Scores are calculated a composite score across all domains where a score of 0 represents no symptom activity and a score of 40 represents the highest possible symptom burden. These were not two separate outcomes, rather two independent measurement instruments (scored on the same scale) specific to the patient's IBD-type to address the specific needs/concerns of the patients based on disease type.

Use of any of the following medications: biologic therapy, immunosuppressant therapy, corticosteroids, narcotics over study period

Inclusion Criteria: established diagnosis of IBD (with at least 3 office visits) followed in GI clinic within 1 year of enrollment in top 20th percentile of predicted risk for subsequent healthcare utilization (previously validated model) Exclusion Criteria: non-IBD driver for high utilization (e.g., active cancer undergoing treatment A life expectancy of less than one year, were excluded from participation.

There is no plan to share this PHI data with the public, however it there is a request, de-identified data could be arranged.

Berinstein JA, Cohen-Mekelburg SA, Greenberg GM, Wray D, Berry SK, Saini SD, Fendrick AM, Adams MA, Waljee AK, Higgins PDR. A Care Coordination Intervention Improves Symptoms But Not Charges in High-Risk Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 May;20(5):1029-1038.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.08.034. Epub 2021 Aug 28.