When a child or teen is diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the entire family is affected. Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease often require ongoing medical management throughout their lifetimes. CHOC Children’s IBD Program was recently established to provide these patients with access to pediatric gastroenterology experts and other key subspecialists, advanced diagnostics and the latest evidence-based research to diagnose and create personalized treatment plans. The program’s team works closely with patients’ primary care providers to ensure care coordination and open communications.
“Primary care providers play a major role in managing the care of patients with IBD. They are our partners in helping us reach our ultimate goal: securing bright futures for our patients,” says Dr. Kenneth Grant, pediatric gastroenterologist at CHOC Children’s. He provides the following program highlights:
- Board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists who work with the latest advancements in IBD research and are engaged in continuous quality improvement
- A support team that includes a registered nurse, nutritionist, social worker, and behavioral health expert
- Coordination with primary care providers, medical and surgical subspecialists, and adult IBD providers and programs
- Membership in the ImproveCareNow (ICN) network, whose purpose is to transform care provided to children and adolescents with IBD. CHOC is the only Orange County hospital that participates in ICN.
- Outpatient care provided at multiple locations: Orange, Mission Viejo, Corona, Newport Beach and Fountain Valley
- Emergency office visits with IBD medical providers for established patients, with same day or next day appointments usually available
- IBD Parent Advisory Council whose members partner with providers to enhance the program
- Outpatient infusion services
- Ongoing research into the causes of IBD and development of better treatments
“Treating IBD in children and teens can be complex, requiring specialized expertise and a multidisciplinary approach to care. We are proud to now offer additional support services to our IBD patients,” says Dr. Grant.
To speak with a CHOC gastroenterologist about the IBD program, call 714-509-4099.
Appointments can be made by calling 888-770-2462.
ong blessings. I am grateful to have grown up at and with this hospital, from the initial CHOC Tower to the current Bill Holmes Tower, through pediatric residency training and beyond. To now be a member of such a remarkable team of providers — including our nurses and support staff — is both humbling and inspiring. Every day, I am especially thankful for the families who cross our threshold, and entrust the care of their most precious children to us. With continued commitment and dedication toward the health and well-being of our children, the future will be brighter than any of us can imagine.”
“I am most grateful to the people behind the scenes at the hospital who do all the invisible jobs that are so important to keep CHOC Children’s running: the housekeepers, lab and x-ray technologists, bio-medical engineers, pharmacy technicians, scrub technicians, security guards and maintenance staff that work tirelessly, 24-hours a day.”
ful for so many things here at CHOC. I feel truly blessed every day to have found a professional community of like-minded caregivers who share a passion and dedication for continued improvement in the care we provide. I am also so grateful for the opportunity to meet and care for such incredibly courageous patients and to become a part of their families. Finally, I am thankful to my teams within the pulmonary division, the Cystic Fibrosis Center and the muscular dystrophy clinics for their selfless care of our patients. I wish our entire community a healthy and happy holiday season.”
