Closing the Gaps in Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Care: Improving Diagnosis, Dosing, and Care Transitions

Panelists discuss recognizing the varied and often atypical symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency to improve early diagnosis and clinical awareness.

Panelists discuss the wide range of pancreatic and non-pancreatic conditions that increase suspicion for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency to improve identification of high-risk patients.

Why EPI stays missed: barriers to enzyme therapy, targeted fecal elastase testing, and preventing malnutrition, bone loss, and QoL decline.

Clinicians across specialties spot red flags, refer early to GI, and follow guidelines to improve diagnosis and management.

Learn how primary care, APPs, and specialists collaborate to spot symptoms, refer fast, and follow guidelines for accurate GI diagnosis.

Learn a stepwise approach to evaluating EPI-like diarrhea—history, alarm features, fecal elastase and imaging—to rule out IBS, celiac, IBD.

Clinicians weigh PEI questionnaires, symptom scores, and AGA updates to track exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and tailor patient-centered care.

Learn what happens after suspected EPI: patient education, enzyme therapy tips, nutrition and vitamin checks, plus smoking and alcohol support.

Learn how clinicians tailor pancreatic enzyme therapy: insurance, dosing, PPIs, and fixes for nonresponse—plus limits of OTC enzymes.

Why EPI outcomes improve when GI, primary care, nutrition and pain teams coordinate—streamlining labs, vitamins and follow-ups for patients.

Clinicians reveal where pancreatic care falls apart—diagnosis delays, post-discharge gaps, lost oncology follow-up—and how to fix handoffs fast.

This episode spotlights a recent publication by Ashkar and colleagues—co-authored by Jennifer Geremia—surveying prescribing practices for EPI across a broad cross-section of healthcare professionals.

In the final episode, each panelist synthesizes their top recommendations for advancing EPI care.