Do You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Living with ongoing digestive symptoms can be frustrating, hard, and, at times, too much to handle. For many people, health issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can look the same on the surface, sharing symptoms such as belly pain, loose stools or feeling tired. But for people with IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the treatment journey often involves a different level of care and coordination. That’s where ChristianaCare’s Specialty Pharmacy comes in.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a lifelong condition in which the immune system, by mistake, causes ongoing swelling in the digestive tract. Over time, this can harm your bowels and greatly impact your quality of life. These conditions often come and go, with times when symptoms are worse and times when people feel better. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive system, while ulcerative colitis mainly affects the colon. In recent years, treatment options for IBD have advanced dramatically. Many patients are now prescribed targeted therapies, including biologic medications and immunomodulators given by mouth, designed to reduce inflammation (swelling) by working with specific parts of the immune system. These treatments can work well, but they can also come with questions, insurance hurdles and the need for close monitoring for both safety and effectiveness. For patients, this can feel like a lot to manage.

At ChristianaCare, specialty pharmacists are an integral part of the care team for patients with complex health issues like IBD. Their role goes far beyond filling a prescription. From the moment a specialty medication is prescribed, pharmacists and their support teams help guide patients through what comes next – step by step. That includes:

• Helping navigate insurance approvals, which are often required for newer IBD therapies.
• Explaining how medications work, including how and when to take them.
• Teaching patients how to use self-injection devices, when applicable.
• Monitoring labs and side effects, and communicating directly with a patient’s care team.

“Our focus is always on the patient’s journey. Our goal is to remove as many barriers as possible so treatment can start safely and as quickly as it should,” Dr. Evelyn Choe, a specialty pharmacist with ChristianaCare.

Starting a new medication can raise concerns, especially if side effects appear or something doesn’t feel right. Patients can call and speak directly with someone who has deep clinical knowledge of their medication without navigating a long phone tree or waiting days for an answer. Pharmacists can answer questions, check symptoms, and, when needed, escalate concerns directly to the prescribing doctor. Just as importantly, everything is documented in the patient’s health record, allowing doctors and care teams to stay informed and aligned.

Not all insurance plans allow medications to be filled at every pharmacy. Even when a medication must be filled by another specialty pharmacy, the ChristianaCare Specialty Pharmacy team remains involved – helping patients understand next steps, ensuring prescriptions are transferred correctly and answering questions along the way. “Our commitment is to the patient, not just the prescription. We want people to feel supported, no matter where their medication comes from,” Dr. Drashti Vasaiwala, a specialty pharmacist with ChristianaCare.

If you’re living with inflammatory bowel disease and feeling unsure about your treatment, or if your current medication isn’t giving you the results you hoped for, it’s okay to ask questions. Talk with your doctor about whether newer treatment options or additional pharmacy support might be right for you. And know that behind the scenes, ChristianaCare’s Specialty Pharmacy team is here to help make the process clearer, calmer and more connected. Learn more about how ChristianaCare’s Specialty Pharmacy supports patients with complex health issues by visiting us online at christianacare.org/specialtypharmacy or by calling us at 833-570-2697.