Problem: Doctors do not recognize the signs and symptoms of celiac disease, leaving patients undiagnosed.
Beyond Celiac offered a free continuing medical education (CME) program, which educated nearly 600 medical professionals.
Doctors once thought of celiac disease as a “rare childhood disease,” and the rate of information updates in the medical community has not kept pace with the rapid changes in scientific understanding of the condition. Responding to the need for accurate physician education, Beyond Celiac created Defining, Diagnosing and Managing Celiac Diseasespecifically for primary care providers. The program featured leading celiac disease experts from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic and USC Keck School of Medicine. Nearly 600 family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other medical providers have actively participated, and more than 6,440 additional copies of the program’s digital version have been downloaded. Beyond Celiac is proud to announce that this program achieved success by almost doubling the average number of participants who typically participate in CME activities like this one. As a result of this course, more than 66% of providers planned to incorporate new strategies or change their existing behavior related to actively recognizing symptoms and testing patients, with another 20% planning to use their new education to properly manage those diagnosed.
