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What you’ll learn in this chapter

• Why IBS care delivers better results when both gut and brain mechanisms are addressed.
• The structure and function of a multidisciplinary UCLA clinic delivering brain-gut therapy.  
• Key research findings supporting integrated, team-based IBS management.  
• Simple steps to refer patients to Nerva and close the brain-gut care gap.  

Evidence from a 2023 prospective trial published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology¹ shows how a virtual integrated-care program for patients with DGBIs and GI symptoms can improve results, boost engagement, and reduce costs in an IBS care model.

The program paired traditional GI care with virtual access to a multidisciplinary team, including behavioral health and dietary support.

Key patient outcomes

• Participants in the virtual integrated-care program reported high rates of symptom improvement and satisfaction.
• Gains in daily functioning highlight the potential of coordinated, multidisciplinary care to deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for patients with DGBIs.
  
  

Healthcare utilization and cost savings

• Compared to matched patients receiving standard care, those in the integrated-care program cut both GI-related and all-cause costs nearly in half.
• Savings were sustained over 9 months, driven by fewer unnecessary tests, reduced emergency visits, and more efficient use of resources.
  
  

Key drivers of savings included

• Reduced need for high-cost, low-yield procedures and emergency visits.
• Fewer endoscopies and imaging studies, helping to control costs while minimizing unnecessary interventions.
  
  
  

Your takeaways

This study offers robust real-world evidence that integrated care – even when delivered virtually – can:

• enhance symptom outcomes
• improve patient engagement
• significantly reduce costs.

For clinicians managing IBS and other DGBIs, these findings reinforce that collaborative, multidisciplinary models are not just scalable but also clinically and economically effective, offering a powerful alternative to fragmented care.

Read the abstract

Additional Viewing: Digestive Health in Dysautonomia

In this webinar, Nancee Jaffe shares practical strategies to help clinicians recognize, assess, and manage these conditions in practice.

What you’ll learn:

• The link between digestive health conditions and dysautonomia in clinical care.
• Signs of autonomic dysfunction in patients with IBS.
• Case examples that show management challenges.
• Dietary, behavioral, and medical strategies for patients.
• When to collaborate with other specialties for better outcomes.

Make integrated care easier with a single referral

Referring to Nerva via the online form is a simple way to offer patients evidence-based behavioral therapy as part of a team-based approach to IBS care: bookmark the form here. 

Whether you’re supporting patients with diet, medication, therapy, or all three, using the form ensures consistent brain-gut support that aligns with your clinical goals. The form takes less than 2 minutes to complete and fits easily into integrated-care workflows. You'll be emailed patient reports, and every referral will receive 25% off their program subscription.

References

1. Chey WD, Keefer L, Jansson-Knodell CL, et al. A virtual integrated care program improves outcomes and reduces costs in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023;118(Suppl 1):e655. doi:10.14309/01.ajg.0001219206.80291.e1

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