Nurse managing IBD virtual clinic with technology symbols

IBD Advances: How Nurses are Revolutionizing Crohn's and Colitis Care

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the latest innovations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management, including virtual clinics, accelerated infusions, and home testing, and how nurses are playing a pivotal role in enhancing patient care and outcomes."

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, presents significant challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike. Effective management requires a multifaceted approach, integrating medical, surgical, and nursing care to optimize patient outcomes.

Traditionally, IBD care has relied heavily on hospital visits and conventional treatment methods. However, recent innovations are shifting the paradigm, with nurses at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge strategies to enhance patient care. These advancements include virtual clinics, accelerated infusions of biosimilar medications, and convenient home testing systems, all designed to improve accessibility, efficiency, and patient satisfaction.

This article explores these transformative approaches, highlighting how nurses are leveraging technology and innovative protocols to revolutionize IBD management. From streamlining communication and treatment decisions in perianal Crohn's disease to ensuring safe and efficient biosimilar infusions and empowering patients with at-home monitoring tools, nurses are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of IBD care.

Virtual Clinics: Streamlining Care for Perianal Crohn's Disease

Nurse managing IBD virtual clinic with technology symbols

Perianal Crohn's disease (PCD) presents unique challenges due to its complex nature and the need for coordinated medical, surgical, and nursing interventions. Traditional care models often involve fragmented communication and delays in treatment, leading to suboptimal outcomes for patients.

To address these challenges, a multidisciplinary team at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London developed a perianal virtual clinic (PVC). This innovative approach brings together gastroenterologists, surgeons, and clinical nurse specialists for weekly virtual reviews of patients with complex PCD. The PVC aims to:

Optimize medical management using drug levels and anti-drug antibody assessments.
Expedite radiological assessments and clinic reviews as needed.
Provide timely surgical interventions for patients with acute PCD activity.
Offer a seamless one-stop service for assessment, treatment planning, and surgical pre-assessment.

The results of their study, which reviewed PVC activity and outcomes between January and June 2016, demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. During this period, the team reviewed 69 virtual patients and 31 acute cases face-to-face. The PVC facilitated timely surgical interventions, with 31 patients booked for examination under anesthesia (EUA) directly from the virtual clinic. Furthermore, 45% of these patients were approved to commence biologic therapy following the EUA. The PVC also enabled efficient optimization of medical therapies, with 14 patients booked for routine outpatient appointments and 7 scheduled for face-to-face assessments to optimize their treatment regimens.

The Future of IBD Care: A Collaborative Approach

The innovations discussed in this article highlight the transformative potential of nursing-led initiatives in IBD management. By embracing virtual clinics, accelerated infusions, and home testing systems, healthcare providers can improve patient access, enhance treatment efficiency, and empower patients to take an active role in their care.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and what challenges does it pose?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) encompasses two main conditions: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both cause significant challenges for patients and healthcare providers. Effective management of IBD requires a comprehensive approach integrating medical, surgical, and nursing care to achieve optimal patient outcomes. The disease itself presents symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue, while its chronic nature and potential complications can dramatically impact a patient's quality of life.

How are virtual clinics revolutionizing the care for Perianal Crohn's Disease (PCD)?

Virtual clinics, specifically the perianal virtual clinic (PVC), are transforming the management of Perianal Crohn's Disease (PCD). These clinics bring together gastroenterologists, surgeons, and clinical nurse specialists for weekly virtual reviews. The PVC optimizes medical management using drug levels and anti-drug antibody assessments, expedites radiological assessments, provides timely surgical interventions, and offers a seamless one-stop service. Studies, like the one at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, demonstrated the PVC's effectiveness, showing it facilitates timely surgical interventions and efficient optimization of medical therapies, leading to improved patient outcomes.

What are accelerated infusions and how do they benefit patients with IBD?

The article highlights the use of accelerated infusions of biosimilar medications, which are infusions that are administered more quickly than traditional methods. While the article doesn't explain the specific process, the goal is to improve treatment efficiency. This means patients spend less time at the clinic and receive their medications faster, improving their convenience and potentially increasing adherence to treatment plans. While the article doesn't provide detailed data, faster infusions are designed to enhance the overall patient experience.

How do nurses contribute to the advancements in IBD care, specifically regarding virtual clinics and home testing?

Nurses play a crucial role in the implementation of advancements like virtual clinics, accelerated infusions of biosimilar medications, and home testing systems. In the context of virtual clinics for Perianal Crohn's Disease, clinical nurse specialists are integral members of the multidisciplinary team, working alongside gastroenterologists and surgeons to review patient cases and coordinate care. Their involvement ensures seamless communication, efficient treatment planning, and timely interventions. Regarding home testing, nurses are likely involved in educating patients, providing instructions, and interpreting results, empowering patients to actively monitor their condition and participate in their care.

Besides virtual clinics, what other innovative approaches are improving IBD patient care and outcomes?

Besides the perianal virtual clinics (PVC), the article mentions accelerated infusions of biosimilar medications and at-home calprotectin testing as innovative approaches improving IBD patient care. While the specific details of accelerated infusions are not elaborated, they are designed to improve treatment efficiency. Home testing for calprotectin allows for convenient monitoring of inflammation levels, enabling patients to take a more active role in their care and allowing for more timely adjustments to treatment plans. These advancements collectively improve patient access to care, enhance treatment efficiency, and empower patients, highlighting a shift towards a more patient-centered approach to IBD management.