Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a common chronic gastrointestinal disease among teens and young adults. Many young people entering college or moving out of their parent's homes need to manage IBD during their young adult years. The years after high school are exciting, with many opportunities and new experiences. We believe that IBD shouldn't hold you back. We want to work with you and your care partners to develop an IBD management plan that:
- Keeps your disease and your stress under control
- Prevents flares
- Helps you thrive
Watch our short video: What is IBD?
We organized Teaching Health Resilience in IBD Through Virtual Engagement (THRIVE) as a telehealth clinic to help young adults living with IBD adjust during this time of transition.
Watch our short video: Where is the THRIVE clinic?
Learn more about our clinic:
What is the THRIVE Clinic?
Located at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, the THRIVE clinic coordinates with several departments. You can expect to meet with a team of providers, including a gastroenterology provider who specializes in IBD, as well as a:
- Clinical pharmacist
- Clinical psychologist with expertise in managing chronic gastrointestinal disorders
- Social worker
Why choose THRIVE?
We designed our clinic for the needs of young adult patients with busy schedules. We provide rapid access to our virtual care team and offer several options for care. We know that transitioning from pediatric to adult care can be tricky. We want to make sure that there are no gaps in the management of your disease and medications as you go through this stage in your life.
Our model of care is flexible enough to meet your needs.
- Meet with us once: Some of our patients meet with us once to establish a "just in case" plan if something arises while you're in our area. This way, we know you and your medical needs. We want to prevent severe flares before they happen.
- Establish your care: Some patients feel more comfortable transitioning care to us. We can support day-to-day needs, such as medication prescriptions or arranging imaging studies or endoscopic procedures.We can also establish connections with our team of experts in the clinic, particularly Gastrointestinal Behavioral Health.
We're here to provide care that fits your life and unique medical needs.
Watch our short videos:
- What support does the THRIVE clinic provide?
- Why is it important to have a local gastrointestinal provider?
Your visit to the THRIVE Clinic
You can choose whether to complete your visit to the THRIVE Clinic independently or with a care partner. It's up to you who you involve in your visit to our clinic. We'll also need to know some of your medical history, and it's helpful if you are ready to talk about:
- Times you have been in the hospital
- Medications you are currently taking
- Medications you have taken and any side effects you've had
- Surgeries you have had
Your visit lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours to allow time with all our providers. Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan. Living with and managing IBD can affect your body, your mental health and how you relate to others. We want to address all the ways your condition affects your life.
After your intake visit, we will help coordinate your follow-up care.
You may also need to see a dietitian, a colorectal surgeon or our wound and ostomy care nurses team. We can help to coordinate these visits if you need them. Some people may benefit from additional psychology or behavioral health follow-up. We offer a wide array of support through our Gastrointestinal Behavioral Health team.
Watch our short video: How can proactive monitoring help manage my IBD?