Bringing better eczema care to patients and doctors

NEA continues to advocate for better medical care as part of our mission to improve the health and quality of life for individuals with eczema through research, support and education. We are getting the word out on the holistic reality of eczema, the best ways for providers to treat eczema patients and emerging therapies to consider.

Eczema care in the current medical landscape is often fractured and uncoordinated. That’s because many practitioners have not yet been informed about the best treatment protocols and emerging eczema medical research.

As a result, there is both a great need and rare opportunity to develop a new health paradigm for eczema care providers—one that is aligned with best practices and based on an interdisciplinary model.

Meet the Coalition United for Better Eczema Care

To answer this need, NEA established the Coalition United for Better Eczema Care (CUBE-C). CUBE-C is a network of cross-specialty leaders, patients and caregivers, constructing an educational curriculum based on standards of effective treatment and disease management.

Treatment protocols have been compiled to review the holistic reality of typical eczema patients, and address quality-of-life considerations, patient and family preference, adherence and compliance issues, and evidence-based alternative and complementary treatments.

In fall 2017, eight articles covering the CUBE-C curriculum were published in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. In 2018, 12 regional educational seminars will be held targeting dermatologists, pediatricians, allergists, mental health practitioners, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

It’s time for doctors and patients to be partners

The entire curriculum is underpinned with the shared decision-making model (SDM), which is a model of care that establishes a partnership between patient and provider. SDM is built on the belief that patients are the foremost experts of their own condition, and providers are experts in the treatment of those conditions. Moreover, SDM contributes to enhanced patient satisfaction and reduced medical costs.

Later this year, NEA will launch a digital SDM platform that includes helpful tools for patients and providers, such as pre-appointment checklists and decision aids. The SDM platform will build trust between patients and their providers, while improving patient safety and health outcomes.