Alice Bast founder of National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
It isn't often that I actively try to recruit a guest blogger but the most recent column by Alice Bast on the front page of the Celiac Central Newsletter really caught my eye. I asked for permission to print it on this blog because it contains very important information you need to have particularly if you are not feeling 100% and have gone to your Doctor only to be told "there is nothing wrong with you". We at http://www.bariatricfoodproducts.com/ are committed to bring you not only celiac friendly products but up to date and accurate information that can possibly help you live a better and more enjoyable life. You have no idea how good I feel when one of our clients, an EMT in South Carolina writes and tells us if it were not for our bars and shakes her lunch times would be non-existent or a living hell, depending on where and what she eats.
So I ask you read the following column and also subscribe to the free Celiac Central Newsletter as they have a lot of great info each month.
"NOTE FROM ALICE
NFCA Founder and President
How Can We Get to the Finnish Line?
Poor physician knowledge is an ongoing challenge for the celiac community. Few doctors know the various clinical presentations of celiac or the the appropriate diagnostic tests, and research indicates that diagnosis can take anywhere from 2 to 11 years in North America. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Last month, I had the honor and pleasure of having lunch with Dr. Markku Maki, a world-renowned Finnish researcher. In Finland, about 60 percent of celiac cases have been diagnosed - an impressive statistic, especially compared to the U.S. where detection is a mere 5 - 10 percent.
I asked Dr. Maki for insight on how we could improve the rate of diagnosis among celiacs still needlessly suffering. His answer turned out to be quite simple: Media, media and more media. He suggested that Oprah air a show on celiac disease/gluten sensitivity. A lofty goal, but imagine the impact!
Should the talk show queen come across this newsletter, there's plenty of reason to join the charge. Raising awareness of celiac disease not only will help millions regain their health, it can also save money.
At a recent luncheon, NFCA Medical Advisory Board Member Dr. Alessio Fasano put a real price tag on detection. According to Dr. Fasano, each 1st or 2nd degree celiac relative who goes undiagnosed costs the health care system about $150,000. With an estimated 2.8 million people undiagnosed, there are likely billions (even hundreds of billions) of health care dollars we could save through better detection - dollars that could be put toward celiac awareness and research. A blood test, by the way, costs only about $30 and can identify 80 percent of undiagnosed celiac sufferers.
With more informed and empowered physicians, we could stop wasting time, money and energy on misdiagnosis. We could finally tip the scale from a disease-based model of care to one that upholds preventive health and wellness. It may seem just a dream, but who says we can't reach for the stars (even a TV one) and make it a reality?
Of course, few of us have connections to Oprah and the like, but there is another influential group we can target: doctors. The NFCA is launching a brand new continuing education program locate at the following link: http://celiaccmecentral.org/ for primary care physicians, and we need your help to spread the word. Led By celiac experts Dr. Dan Leffler of the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Joe Murray of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Dr. Michelle Pietzak of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, the course will give doctors a better understanding of celiac disease. Most importantly, the primary care community will learn how to identify at-risk patients and determine the best tests for diagnosis.
Whether you want to say "Thanks!" to the doc who told you about celiac or "Wake-Up!" to the ones who were clueless, get the message across by sending them this link to the new Celiac CME Central at http://www.celiaccmecentral.org/
Cheers,
Alice Bast"
If you wish to contact this noteworthy group directly click www.CeliacCentral.org
Gene C.
So I ask you read the following column and also subscribe to the free Celiac Central Newsletter as they have a lot of great info each month.
"NOTE FROM ALICE
NFCA Founder and President
How Can We Get to the Finnish Line?
Poor physician knowledge is an ongoing challenge for the celiac community. Few doctors know the various clinical presentations of celiac or the the appropriate diagnostic tests, and research indicates that diagnosis can take anywhere from 2 to 11 years in North America. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Last month, I had the honor and pleasure of having lunch with Dr. Markku Maki, a world-renowned Finnish researcher. In Finland, about 60 percent of celiac cases have been diagnosed - an impressive statistic, especially compared to the U.S. where detection is a mere 5 - 10 percent.
I asked Dr. Maki for insight on how we could improve the rate of diagnosis among celiacs still needlessly suffering. His answer turned out to be quite simple: Media, media and more media. He suggested that Oprah air a show on celiac disease/gluten sensitivity. A lofty goal, but imagine the impact!
Should the talk show queen come across this newsletter, there's plenty of reason to join the charge. Raising awareness of celiac disease not only will help millions regain their health, it can also save money.
At a recent luncheon, NFCA Medical Advisory Board Member Dr. Alessio Fasano put a real price tag on detection. According to Dr. Fasano, each 1st or 2nd degree celiac relative who goes undiagnosed costs the health care system about $150,000. With an estimated 2.8 million people undiagnosed, there are likely billions (even hundreds of billions) of health care dollars we could save through better detection - dollars that could be put toward celiac awareness and research. A blood test, by the way, costs only about $30 and can identify 80 percent of undiagnosed celiac sufferers.
With more informed and empowered physicians, we could stop wasting time, money and energy on misdiagnosis. We could finally tip the scale from a disease-based model of care to one that upholds preventive health and wellness. It may seem just a dream, but who says we can't reach for the stars (even a TV one) and make it a reality?
Of course, few of us have connections to Oprah and the like, but there is another influential group we can target: doctors. The NFCA is launching a brand new continuing education program locate at the following link: http://celiaccmecentral.org/ for primary care physicians, and we need your help to spread the word. Led By celiac experts Dr. Dan Leffler of the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Joe Murray of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Dr. Michelle Pietzak of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, the course will give doctors a better understanding of celiac disease. Most importantly, the primary care community will learn how to identify at-risk patients and determine the best tests for diagnosis.
Whether you want to say "Thanks!" to the doc who told you about celiac or "Wake-Up!" to the ones who were clueless, get the message across by sending them this link to the new Celiac CME Central at http://www.celiaccmecentral.org/
Cheers,
Alice Bast"
If you wish to contact this noteworthy group directly click www.CeliacCentral.org
Gene C.
posted by Gene Carbonell at
4:49 PM
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