ICA hosts forum to improve quality of healthcare and lives of people with IC

Leading Urogynecologists and Urologists Share New Research and Multidisciplinary Treatment Approach with Patients, Caregivers and Medical Providers

The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) is hosting a forum and interactive webcast on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. The event, "Finding Better Relief: Working with an IC Healthcare Team", gives interstitial cystitis (IC) patients the opportunity to learn about innovative treatment approaches from top IC doctors. In addition to the in-person gathering, the ICA will broadcast the event via a live webcast, allowing patients all over the world to participate and have their top medical questions answered.

"The ICA Forum connects IC patients, caregivers and healthcare providers to leaders in the field to hear about new approaches to IC treatment, including complementary and alternative medicine," said Barbara Gordon, executive director of the ICA. "Through this event, the ICA hopes to improve the quality of healthcare and lives of people living with IC."

The forum features innovative specialists Barry Jarnagin, M.D., a urogynecologist, and Ragi Doggweiler, M.D., a urologist. Both specialists bring an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to treating IC -- a severely painful and chronic bladder condition affecting as many as 8 million women and 4 million men in the United States.

Dr. Jarnagin, director of the Center for Pelvic Health at Saint Thomas Health Services in Franklin and Nashville, has set up a multidisciplinary practice at Saint Thomas Health to address all the health issues IC patients face. Dr. Doggweiler is known, not only for her multidisciplinary approach, but also for her use of complementary and alternative medicine in IC care.

Patients need creative approaches to treatment because IC rarely travels alone. People with IC often have other conditions, such as pelvic floor dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. Medical professionals, such as Dr. Jarnagin and Dr. Doggweiler recognize this phenomenon and incorporate treatments for these additional conditions into their practices. Dr. Jarnagin draws from the latest urogynecologic and pain management techniques, incorporating innovative pain mapping. Dr. Doggweiler uses a range of noninvasive therapies, including compounded topical medicines, to ease all sources of patients' symptoms.

Because many patients need help beyond what traditional therapies provide, complementary and alternative techniques are popular. The overwhelming response to the ICA's 2009 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Survey by some 2,000 IC patients shows high interest in integrating alternative therapies into their overall treatment.  In response to patient needs, Dr. Doggweiler has incorporated alternative techniques such as hypnosis and homeopathic medicine into her IC practice.

The two-hour forum takes place at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville from 9:30 am to 11:30 am CDT. The ICA will also broadcast the event via a live, interactive webcast. Both web participants and in-person attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event. The cost is $15 for ICA members and $25 for non-members and individuals can sign up for the in-person forum or the webcast at www.ichelp.org.

The forum has been made possible through generous support from Purdue Pharma L.P., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Desert Harvest.

"We've been pleased with the outpouring of support and passionate response from the IC community for both the live event and interactive webcast," said Gordon. "We applaud the time and effort given by speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees to share stories of hope and enhance the treatment of IC."