Testimonials

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Researchers are Saying...

“The overall prevalence of celiac disease in not-at-risk groups was 1:133.” “Celiac disease occurs frequently… (in) patients with numerous common disorders even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. … Celiac disease appears to be a more common but neglected disorder than has generally been recognized in the United States.”
~ Alessio Fasano et al (2003). Prevalence of Celiac Disease in At-Risk and Not-at-Risk Groups in the United States. Arch Intern Med, 163: 286-292.  

 

“Coeliac disease remains underdiagnosed in both wealthy and developing countries. In the short term, greater medical awareness promoted by ongoing education in primary care and subspecialties promises to identify many patients affected by celiac disease who would benefit from treatment.”     
~ Robert P. Anderson (2008). Coeliac disease: current approach and future prospects. Internal Medicine Journal, 38:790-799.

A lack of medical awareness about celiac disease is the underlying reason behind the vast number of misdiagnosed and undiagnosed people with the disease.
~ Pekka Collin et al, 2007. Diagnosis of Celiac Disease in Clinical Practice: Physician’s Alertness to the Condition Essential. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 41: 2, 152-156.

 

A survey of primary care physicians in southern California found that only one third had ever identified a patient with celiac disease and less than half of the respondents were aware that endomysial antibody testing (blood test) could be used to help diagnose someone with the disorder.    
~ Robert D Zipster et al (2005). Brief Report: Physician Awareness of Celiac Disease. A Need for Further Education. Journal of General Internal Medicine 20:644-646.)


GREAT Allied Health

“As an allied health professional in Physical Therapy, we are often overlooked when it comes to education on dietary concerns of our patients. As an  individual with celiac disease who has also been a patient in the health care system for issues unrelated to celiac, I have sometimes come across a lack of knowledge about the disease. I was so pleased when I learned that the GREAT program was offering education not just for food service personnel and dietitians, but for nursing staff, physician assistants, mental health and allied health professionals.

The GREAT online course was incredibly easy to follow from both a technical and learning perspective.  It covered all important issues dealing with celiac disease awareness, and gives practical examples of how this knowledge will carry over into clinical care.  It makes me very hopeful that in the future, if I ever have to have another outpatient procedure, that the recovery room nursing staff will not offer me saltines and graham crackers. Thank you to the NFCA for putting together an awesome resource.

Erin Elberson
Gluten Free Fitness and Welness, LLC
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

"The awareness is important because a lot of medicine is so interrelated. A condition this common would be a shame to miss it."

-Kevin Kelly, Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Abington Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

"GREAT Healthcare's easy-to-understand learning modules and written materials provided our healthcare professionals with a heightened awareness and education about celiac disease and its only treatment, the gluten free diet. The ability of the NFCA to work within the parameters of our large, integrated health care system, interact with employees at all levels and deliver a professional product made this organization the ideal partner for implementing a program of this scope."
-Margaret Weiss Masiello, RD
Clinical Coordinator
Kogan Celiac Center
Saint Barnabas Health Care System, NJ

"The GREAT Health Care's Training Center programs are easy to access, user friendly, and provide a quick and thorough study for assisting in possible celiac diagnosis of patients whose manifestations might be disregarded as vague. I appreciated the site's ability to evaluate my computer and offer direct connections to necessary downloads right on the sign in page.  I was able to get started right away with my selected program. Often, we in the medical community look for complicated answers and do not stop to consider diet as key to healthful living for our patients.  How wonderful to know that lifestyle changes, although challenging, are indeed doable and can help correct this auto-immune disease. Thank you for helping empower me to help others make choices to correct existing conditions and prevent further illness thereby improving quality of life."
-M.L. Reitz, M.S. Health Educator
Philadelphia, PA

GREAT Nurse Practitioners and GREAT Physician Assistants

"I was very impressed. The handling of tTG and EMA was well done. This GREAT program increased my knowledge about celiac disease, despite the fact that I am a gastroenterologist. It gave me good talking points for patients and other doctors."
-Steven Herrine, MD
Department of Gastroenterology
Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, PA

"Compelling content.  Definitely makes me want to send many more of my chronic patients for testing."
- Susan Thomas, MD, FAAFP
former Chief Medical Officer for GE Healthcare,
Central Maine Medical Group and IT Consultant

"Until I had to face Celiac disease in my family, I didn’t realize the morbidity of the disease. Now I recognize the subtle presentations of this disease, and diagnose it readily. GREAT Healthcare helps providers to recognize the many ways it manifests, so that they can help their patients to prevent long-term illness and return to good health."
- Dr. Rugmini Shah, MD, FACP
Preventative Medicine, Granite Bay, CA"GREAT Nurse Practitioners is an important educational program for nurses. It provides nurse practitioners with the knowledge needed to recognize undiagnosed celiac disease in the people they care for and assist in maintaining a gluten-free diet in the hospital and at home. GREAT Nurse Practitioners is tailored for nurse practitioners and will enhance their role on the health care team!"
Patricia Jackson Allen, RN, MS, PNP, FAAN
Professor and Director, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty
Yale University School of Nursing

GREAT Mental Health

"GREAT Mental Health increased my understanding of celiac disease, giving me a solid foundation to help my clients identify the possible source of their issues. After completing GREAT Healthcare, I feel confident in my ability to support my clients with celiac disease and help them successfully handle the emotional challenges faced on a gluten-free diet."
- Teri Heines, PsyD, LCSW
Evergreen, CO

"The training provided easy-to-understand information about celiac disease and the manner in which it underlies or exacerbates mental health issues. I will now be alert for instances of undiagnosed celiac disease in my clinical practice."
-    Amy Wenzel, PhD
Pennsylvania

GREAT Nursing Professionals

"GREAT Nursing Professionals is an important educational program for nurses. It provides nurses with the knowledge needed to recognize undiagnosed celiac disease in the people they care for and assist in maintaining a gluten-free diet in the hospital and at home. GREAT Nursing Professionals is tailored for nurses and will enhance their role on the health care team!"
Patricia Jackson Allen, RN, MS, PNP, FAAN
Professor and Director, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty
Yale University School of Nursing

GREAT Dietitians – Healthcare and Clinical Settings

"GREAT Dietitians adds a high level of safety and confidence to the care of celiacs in the healthcare setting."
-Margaret Weiss Masiello, RD
Clinical Coordinator
Kogan Celiac Center
Saint Barnabas Health Care System, NJ

"A registered dietician well trained in celiac disease is required for the care of the patient with celiac disease."
~Alessio Fasano et al.
 Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 2009."If you have any contact with celiac patients, this program tells you the right information to pass along and makes it easy to do so.”
Kristin Roscioli, R.D.
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Philadelphia, PA

GREAT Dietitians - Foodservice

"NFCA's mission includes raising awareness for celiac disease. With the increase in awareness and diagnosis of celiac disease, proper foodservice training is paramount."
Rebekah Spetnagel, MSS, RD On The Menu, LLC/Gluten Detectives®

"I believe that the GREAT program should be the industry standard."
Joan Pedlow RN, RD GF Naturals®

"GREAT is an authoritative, comprehensive tool that no institution should be without!"
Nancy Patin Falini, MA,RD,LDN
Consultant/Author/Lecturer

Great Kitchens

The GREAT program was an extremely educational and resourceful program.  The materials for the program made my job easy as a trainer to implement at our Universities …  I cannot say enough good things about all resources available for the staff and management from the GREAT program.  The resources helped to educate staff and provide tools to use for students with celiac disease.   I did not have to recreate a program.  As a corporate dietitian I do have not the time to create programs. Therefore, GREAT made my job easy to implement and train the staff.
Michelle Apple R.D.L.D.
AVI  Corporate Dietitian

We didn't want our gluten-free pizza just to fill a void; it needed to taste great and give people a true pizza experience again. It was even more important that we know how to properly handle and serve the product. Because it is not possible for us to be a 100% gluten-free establishment, our teams needed procedures, tools, and knowledge of how to prevent cross-contamination. The NFCA … helped guide us through this process and create awareness that didn't exist before.
Brandi Babb
Director of Training
Zpizza

 

 
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