April 2024 GERDBOT™ GIVES PATIENTS FASTER CAREFeaturing: John E. Pandolfino, MD
Artificial intelligence at Northwestern Medicine is making it faster for patients to get the care they need for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Patients can visit nm.org and have a virtual chat with GERDBot, a computer interface that asks them about their symptoms. Based on their answers, GERDBot connects the patient to an advanced practice provider who can often virtually oversee their care.
GERDBot was developed by John E. Pandolfino, MD, chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, to address an increasing patient need for GERD-related care. Since the diagnosis does not require a physical examination, he saw an opportunity to streamline care for patients who have symptoms like frequent heartburn, dry cough, worsening of asthma symptoms, frequent burping, difficulty swallowing, a bitter taste in the mouth, or nausea and vomiting. “Research shows that a third of American adults regularly experience acid reflux symptoms, and they have to wait three to six months to get an appointment with a gastroenterologist,” says Dr. Pandolfino. “Now, patients who use GERDBot are quickly connected to a highly skilled advanced practice provider who immediately establishes a care plan. It’s been tremendously satisfying for our patients, and it has already freed up more than 350 provider appointments for patients with more severe diseases.” Most patients are invited into the Care Companion program, which provides 12 weeks of video education about GERD, including diet, lifestyle modifications and medications. Patients receive medication if needed, and their progress is tracked through validated surveys, allowing updates to be made as needed. At the end of the 12 weeks, every patient then has an in-person appointment with an advanced practice provider or physician. Gwen M. Cassidy, APRN, esophageal gastroenterology nurse practitioner, is the first person patients speak to after they use GERDBot. Within 72 hours, she calls them for a 15-minute intake call. If the patient is right for Care Companion, their treatment plan begins right away. “Patients who enter Care Companion start to receive care immediately rather than waiting months for an appointment,” says Cassidy. “Throughout the program, we touch base to ask if the things we are doing are making patients better or worse, and adjust their treatment plans accordingly.” During the intake call, some patient symptoms are flagged as needing more immediate intervention or investigation, in which case the patient bypasses the Care Companion program. Those symptoms include stuck food, atypical chest pain, a history of foregut surgery and a history of endoscopy with a diagnosis of esophagitis. If Cassidy suspects these more serious issues, the patient is referred for an appointment with a physician. “Patients are responding well to the education about lifestyle modifications and diet, and they’re satisfied that they start to see improvement in their symptoms so quickly,” says Cassidy. “Most of them are feeling significantly better many months before they would have been able to see a member of our team.” This article was originally published in the Northwestern Medicine Physician Forum on April 18, 2024. |
John E. Pandolfino, MD, chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
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