Facilities for Treatment of Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic lifelong condition causing inflammation the digestive tract. Patients with Crohn's tend to have flare-ups followed by periods of remission that can last for years. Once you have been diagnosed as having Crohn's disease, it is important that you choose a gastroenterologist in the right treatment facility to monitor your condition and to look after you in the event of flare-ups.

Symptoms

• Crohn's disease is characterized by periods of sever, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, weight loss and bleeding. The symptoms can affect any part of the digestive tract, but it most commonly affects the small or large intestine.

Treatment

• Treatment is aimed at preventing flare-ups by controlling inflammation and symptoms, but some people need surgery. Drug treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-diarrhea drugs, corticosteroids, and drugs that work on the immune system to minimize flare-ups and prolong remission.

  Colorectal surgery may be required if drugs are not successful at maintaining remission or when other serious problems with the bowels arise.

Choosing A Treatment Center

• It is likely that your primary care physician will be able to advise you of suitable treatment facilities. Ensure that any facility you choose and its treatments are covered by your insurance policy and that the facility has been accredited by a government-recognized institution such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.The commission's website offers accreditation checks. Ensure the facility suits your requirements. You may or may not have a preference for a teaching hospital involved in clinical trials and education.

  Arm yourself with as much information as possible in order to make an informed choice.

Noted Treatment Centers

• The following facilities have been recognized by the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease for their work with Crohn's disease:

  The Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York; the Inflammatory Bowel Center at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles; the Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; and the University of Chicago Section of Gastroenterology and Nutrition.

  This is not an exhaustive list of treatment facilities in America. Please check the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America website for more information on finding a physician and treatment facility in your area.

Communication With Your Doctor

• Visiting a doctor or specialist can be an intimidating experience at the best of times. When you visit your primary care physician and once you have chosen your facility, it is important to be able to effectively communicate with all staff involved in your treatment. To boost your confidence and ensure you do not forget anything, try writing a list of questions and thoughts beforehand. Some people find it helps to bring a close friend or relative for moral support.