The CHOC Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic is proud to offer a multidisciplinary team approach to the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The team collaborates to meet the unique needs of each patient and family by developing specific treatment plans that are individualized for each patient.
Gastroenterology Doctor and Nurse Practitioner
Many of the first symptoms patients with EoE experience are in the gastrointestinal area of the body, also known as the digestive system. Because of this, a member of the gastroenterology team has usually seen most patients before they are diagnosed with EoE. Once an upper endoscopy is completed and the gastroenterology doctor confirms the signs of EoE, patients are referred to our clinic. Our nurse practitioner coordinates the care between the gastroenterology physicians and the remainder of the team. She sees every patient at every clinic visit and regularly communicates all information regarding each patient to the physician who originally saw the patient.
Allergist
EoE is an allergic disease. The allergist is essential in figuring out which allergy is causing the EoE symptoms. An allergist performs the initial allergy work-up and testing. Once all the testing is finished, the allergist works with the patient, his or her family and the clinic’s dietitian on food elimination and reintroduction.
Dietitian
Because food elimination is necessary to determine which specific foods are causing a child’s EoE, our dietitian closely monitors our patients to ensure they are getting the proper nutrition they need to grow and develop. The dietitian provides education and support while following elimination or elemental diet therapies and suggests alternative foods or specialized formulas to meet the child’s nutritional needs.
Medical Assistant
The medical assistant helps administer allergy testing in the clinic and assists the physician in interpreting the results. She provides allergy and asthma education to patients and their families, which includes instructions about environmental changes as well as the use of prescribed medications and information on action plans prepared by the physician. The medical assistant has also been very important in the success in obtaining authorizations and coverage for elemental formulas.