Atopic Dermatitis Team Members Tool

Primary Care Provider (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Central Role in Patient Management

Role: Assessment

  • Initial diagnosis
  • Screening for comorbidities:
    • Infections
    • Mental health disorders
    • Cardiovascular risk factors
    • Etc.

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Basic management (skin care, trigger avoidance)
  • Acute treatment for mild to moderate AD
  • Maintenance treatment
  • Consult specialist for severe or nonresponsive AD

Dermatologist / AD Specialist (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Role: Assessment

  • Confirmation of AD diagnosis
  • Assess severity, response to prior treatment

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Phototherapy
  • Dupilumab
  • Systemic immunosuppression
  • Basic management (skin care, trigger avoidance)
  • Acute treatment for mild to moderate AD
  • Maintenance treatment

Dermatologist / AD Specialist (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Role: Assessment

  • Confirmation of AD diagnosis
  • Assess severity, response to prior treatment

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Phototherapy
  • Dupilumab
  • Systemic immunosuppression
  • Basic management (skin care, trigger avoidance)
  • Acute treatment for mild to moderate AD
  • Maintenance treatment

Dermatologist / AD Specialist (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Role: Assessment

  • Confirmation of AD diagnosis
  • Assess severity, response to prior treatment

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Phototherapy
  • Dupilumab
  • Systemic immunosuppression
  • Basic management (skin care, trigger avoidance)
  • Acute treatment for mild to moderate AD
  • Maintenance treatment

Nurse (RN, NP)

Role: Assessment

  • Adherence barriers
  • Skin care concerns
  • Worries about medication side effects

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • AD as a chronic condition
  • Skin care education
  • Environmental controls

Psychologist

Role: Assessment

  • Itch-scratch triggers
  • Barriers to skin care and treatment adherence
  • Sleep/routine disruption
  • Social impact
  • Impact on education
  • Impact on self-esteem
  • Bullying/teasing
  • Effect on family
  • Mental health symptoms/ comorbidities

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Strategies for itch/scratch cycle
  • Stress management
  • Sleep hygiene
  • Behavioral plan for sleep
  • Strategies for bullying/teasing

Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD, RDN)

Role: Assessment

  • Adequacy of nutrition (including calcium, vitamin D intake)
  • Adherence to elimination
    diet
  • Ability/adherence to read food labels
  • Food variety
  • Gastrointestinal, chewing, or swallowing problems
  • Mealtime dynamics and schedules
  • 25-Hydroxy vitamin D level, if available

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Elimination diet
  • Avoiding allergens and cross-contact
  • Navigating dining out with food allergies
  • Substitutions for baking and cooking
  • Recipes, ideas for meals and snacks
  • Resources for managing food allergies
  • Specialty manufacturers for allergy friendly foods

Allergist (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Role: Assessment

  • Food and environmental allergy testing

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • Allergy treatment as appropriate

Patient/Caregiver

Role: Assessment

  • Reports symptoms
  • Reports adherence and response to treatment
  • Reports quality of life, sleep quality and quantity, ADLs, and social activities

Role: Education and Care Plan

  • The patient is the center of the team
  • This includes family, friends, advocates
  • Active participant in developing plan
  • Approves plan and suggests adjustments over time
  • Implements plan on a daily basis, titrating treatment according to disease activity

References

  • Boguniewicz M et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017;5:1519-1531.
  • Cork MJ et al. Br J Dermatol. 2003;149:582-589.
  • Grillo M et al. Pediatr Dermatol. 2006;23:428-436.
  • LeBovidge JS, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;138:325-34.
  • LeBovidge J, et al. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2017;36:131-136.
  • Moore EJ et al. Australas J Dermatol. 2009;50:100-106.
  • Rolinck-Werninghaus C et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2015;26:805-810.

Atopic Dermatitis Team Members Tool

Primary Care Provider (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Central Role in Patient Management

Dermatologist / AD Specialist (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Nurse (RN, NP)

Psychologist

Dietician/Nutritionist (RD, RDN)

Allergist (MD/DO, NP, PA)

Patient/Caregiver

References

  • Boguniewicz M et al., J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017;5:1519-1531.
  • Cork MJ et al. Br J Dermatol. 2003;149:582-589.
  • Grillo M et al. Pediatr Dermatol. 2006;23:428-436.
  • LeBovidge JS, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;138:325-34.
  • LeBovidge J, et al. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2017;36:131-136.
  • Moore EJ et al. Australas J Dermatol. 2009;50:100-106.
  • Rolinck-Werninghaus C et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2015;26:805-810.