The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and RMEI Medical Education’s Clinical Convergence – Business Wire (press release)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Clinical Convergence conference series entitled Patient and Provider Perspectives in IBD, is expanding with three new cities added in 2017. The series, a partnership between the Crohns & Colitis Foundation (the Foundation) and RMEI Medical Education (RMEI) is a continuing education initiative for clinicians who treat patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and the patients they care for. This innovative mix of educational courses brings communities of healthcare providers and IBD patients together, for improved care and outcomes. Following the success of the 2016 series, there will be three new metro areas in 2017 and all locations now include a special workshop on shared decision-making for patient attendees.

Gastroenterologists and gastroenterology advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants), will engage in interactive CME sessions, while patients participate in parallel education tracks tailored to their needs. The two groups will then converge into a single session for a structured discussion on best practices for IBD patient care and shared decision-making.

The patient-provider relationship, particularly in chronic conditions like IBD, is critical that patients have a more active and participatory role in the ongoing dialogue with providers, said Laura Wingate, Senior Vice President of Education, Support & Advocacy at the Foundation. We believe this annual series can help meet the Foundations long-term goals of improving the lives of patients with IBD, by empowering them with insights on their condition, and supporting the work of their clinicians at the same time.

The 2017 series kicks off on September 9 in Kansas City, MO, followed by Austin, TX on September 16, and Pittsburgh, PA on November 18. Topics will include:

Registration is available at: http://www.RMEI.com/IBDsymposium.

The Clinical Convergence: Patient and Provider Perspectives in IBD is made possible by support from AbbVie Inc., Celgene Corporation, Salix Pharmaceuticals, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA.

As the healthcare delivery system in the U.S. evolves from volume-based reimbursement to a value-based model, clinicians are under increasing pressure to meet requirements for patient satisfaction scores and engagement metrics, on top of clinical outcomes, notes Dr. Jacqui Brooks, SVP of Medical Strategy at RMEI. The Clinical Convergence series meets patients and providers where they live, bringing expert faculty from leading institutions to discuss practical approaches to the complex issues in IBD care management.

Known collectively as IBD, Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis affects 1 in 200 people. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive tract, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgery. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however the incidence is increasing in children.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (the Foundation) is the largest non-profit, voluntary, health organization dedicated to finding cures for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The Foundations 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 http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org, call 888-694-8872, or email info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.

About RMEI Medical Education

Founded in 1990, RMEI Medical Education (RMEI) is one of the longest operating medical education companies in the U.S. With an emphasis on sophisticated learner analytics for program design, delivery and assessment, RMEI works to elevate the dialogue on what makes for effective education. In designing innovative teaching modalities such as the Clinical Convergence platform for its primary therapeutic areas of focus, RMEI seeks to inspire greater collaboration within the care team and stronger commitment to patient engagement. For more information, visit http://www.rmei.com, call 856-672-3152 or email at contact@rmei.com.

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The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and RMEI Medical Education's Clinical Convergence - Business Wire (press release)