Toward Integrated Care for Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders: A Model for Clinical Practice

Integrated care refers to the coordinated delivery of health services across providers and settings, aimed at ensuring continuous, patient-centered care throughout the course of disease. Models of integrated care have demonstrated particular relevance in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), due to their multidimensional nature. Integrated care has the potential not only to alleviate symptom burden, but also to improve quality of life and mental health outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Nevertheless, barriers to implementation persist, and despite growing recognition of its value, integrated care has not yet been systematically adopted for GI motility disorders. These disorders, thought to be multifactorial, exhibit considerable overlap with DGBI, rendering them clinically indistinguishable in some cases. Furthermore, while mental health problems are well recognized in DGBI, they are also commonly observed in individuals with GI motility disorders. In response, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ has developed a multidisciplinary, integrated, patient-centered care model for the diagnosis and management of neurogastroenterology and motility disorders. By presenting this approach, we aim to foster knowledge exchange and support the development of integrated care models adaptable to the specific needs of diverse healthcare settings.