Medical Education Resource Center
at Bateman Horne Center

An Open Medicine Foundation supported initiative.

Medical Education Resource Center
at Bateman Horne Center

An Open Medicine Foundation
supported initiative.

Medical Resources

Patient Resources

Program Impact

MERC Strategy

The Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) supported Bateman Horne Medical Education Resource Center (BHC MERC) is dedicated to educating healthcare professionals to expand their awareness, knowledge, diagnostic, and treatment ability for the benefit of those with multi-system Chronic Complex Diseases (msCCD) such as ME/CFS, FM, post-viral syndromes, and related comorbidities. As the medical education director of the BHC MERC, Lucinda Bateman, MD, has pioneered the way for increasing access to care for patients with these chronic complex diseases since 2002.

MEDICAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Lucinda Bateman, MD, is a renowned clinician, researcher, and educator. Her Johns Hopkins University Medical School training instilled an approach to care that she has employed throughout her career – the patient comes first and the unknown or unexplained does not equate to a lack of proper and compassionate care. Since starting her own practice in 2000, she has served on six boards or committees, been the principal investigator for 45 studies, authored/coauthored 40 journal articles, served as adjunct instructor and adjunct assistant professor in the University of Utah Departments of Preventative Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Anesthesiology, and lectured around the world. Click here to read more.

IMPACT

Increased access to care starts with an informed medical community where patients are readily diagnosed and met with understanding and high-quality care. Education delivered by the BHC MERC will equip healthcare professionals with tools and knowledge to assist in making a differential diagnosis which will:

  • Guide targeted treatment of comorbid conditions and symptom management, improving patient function and quality of life.
  • Equip the medical system to close the gap between patient need and access to care.
  • Lead to earlier interventions and increased disease manageability.
  • Allow the care of the patient to remain with their community care team, decreasing unnecessary or inappropriate referrals.

STRATEGY

The delivery and execution of BHC MERC is a systematic approach that activates learning curiosity and application of skill. BHC MERC disseminates education through multiple channels which afford healthcare professionals to more effectively and efficiently meet their patients’ needs.

Educational channels include in person mentoring, medical rotations, and case-based learning, short informative videos, handouts, and learning modules. Continuing medical education (CME) is offered through live lectures, conferences, and structured educational events. Enduring CME also allows medical professionals the time to learn at their own pace while gleaning insights which can be translated into their daily practice. Diagnosis and management of multi-system Chronic Complex Diseases require an understanding of the disease process, physiologic drivers, and comorbid conditions.

The healthcare professional education pages include information about the
diseases below:

• Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
• Fibromyalgia (FM)
• Long COVID and post-viral syndromes (PVS)
• Common comorbid conditions:

• Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
• Small fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN)
• Cervicocranial instability (CCI), atlanto-axial instability (AAI)
• Hypermobility disorders (Ehlers Danlos, hEDS)
• Orthostatic intolerance syndromes (OI) and dysautonomia

The BHC MERC is made possible by OMF and generous donors like you. Thank you.