S2974 Virtual Multidisciplinary GI Clinic Improves Outcomes in Medicare-Aged Patients With Gastrointestinal Conditions

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are highly prevalent in adults aged 65 and older, affecting more than half of the Medicare population and contributing to significant healthcare costs. This population faces unique care challenges, including increased symptom burden, higher complication rates, and frequent reliance on emergency services and advanced diagnostics. We evaluated the impact of a virtual multidisciplinary GI clinic on patient engagement and clinical outcomes in Medicare-aged adults. Methods: In this prospective observational study, adults aged ≥65 years and insured by a national commercial health plan were enrolled in a virtual GI clinic between March 2021 and May 2025. Patients receiving ≥1 year of care were included in descriptive analyses of clinical engagement. All patients completed ≥4 clinical visits and provided self-reported outcomes at baseline and after the most recent visit, including symptom severity (of any GI-related symptom), global symptom control, and satisfaction. Paired pre-post comparisons were made using McNemar’s Chi-square tests. Results: Of 356 enrolled clinic patients, 209 (59%) were women with a mean age of 68.8 ± 4.6 years. The most common diagnoses were disorders of gut brain interaction (54%) and esophageal diseases (43%), with new GI diagnoses made in 30%. Enrolled patients completed a mean of 7 visits (range: 2-48) and exchanged a mean of 44 messages (range: 3-792) with the care team. Most patients received care from dietitians (92%) and GI psychologists (47%) as part of the multidisciplinary team. Significant improvements were observed in symptom severity (n = 184; 23% moderate-to-severe post-care vs 72% at baseline; P < 0.0001), global symptom control (n = 200; 95% post-care vs 18% baseline; P < 0.0001), and satisfaction with care (n = 115; 100% satisfied post-care vs 44% baseline; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: This virtual multidisciplinary GI care model was associated with frequent clinical engagement and significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes among Medicare-aged adults. These findings support the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of virtual integrated GI care in older adults, a population often underserved in traditional care models.