ModMed has announced an expanded gGastro Suite that brings AI into clinical documentation, ASC workflows, revenue cycle management and practice operations for gastroenterology practices. The company says the investment is intended to reduce administrative burden and connect workflows that are often managed through separate systems. The expanded suite adds ModMed Scribe, an ambient AI documentation tool that captures patient-provider conversations, suggests structured notes and diagnosis codes, and can support downstream workflows such as prescriptions, lab orders and patient education. General availability is expected in early 2027. ModMed is also introducing an agentic RCM AI platform designed to reduce denials, automate…
Author: Abhay Panchal
CRH Anesthesia, a subsidiary of CRH Medical Corporation, has acquired a majority interest in Southern Colorado Anesthesia Associates (SCAA), establishing a strategic partnership with Associates in Gastroenterology in the Colorado Springs market. The transaction adds 10 gastroenterologists to CRH’s physician-partner network and expands its Colorado presence to 17 locations. Associates in Gastroenterology and SCAA collectively serve patients at two ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the region. According to the companies, the partnership will simplify anesthesia-service management and support the continued development of the practice’s surgical center operations. For CRH, the deal represents further expansion of its GI-focused anesthesia platform and…
A study published in Gastro Hep Advances evaluated ColoPrep, a two-way text messaging program designed to help patients prepare for and attend scheduled colonoscopies. The study included 36,160 patients across three outpatient endoscopy facilities at an academic health system in the Philadelphia region. The program sends appointment reminders, answers common bowel preparation questions and connects patients with staff when additional guidance is needed. Following implementation, colonoscopy completion rates increased by 5.9 percentage points more at intervention sites than at the control site. When sigmoidoscopies were excluded, the difference was 8.4 percentage points. Among Black patients, the results showed a similar…
Viome Life Sciences has launched CancerDetect Pancreatic, a physician-ordered blood test designed to detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by measuring enzyme activity associated with the disease. In the company’s blinded validation, the test detected stage I and II pancreatic cancers with 86% sensitivity and 90% specificity against healthy controls. Unlike tests that rely on detecting tumor DNA, the technology measures enzymes involved in the breakdown of surrounding tissue, using signal amplification to detect very low concentrations. The test is intended for adults aged 50 and older, with particular interest in people at elevated risk, including those with certain genetic mutations, a…
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a prototype ingestible capsule designed to collect biological samples from hard-to-reach regions of the small intestine. Published in Device, the study describes a pill-shaped device containing a retractable brush that is controlled by external magnets. In laboratory experiments using extracted pig intestines, two robotic arms equipped with magnets controlled the capsule’s position and operated its internal mechanism. The brush extended to sweep samples from the intestinal surface before retracting into the capsule. The collected material was suitable for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, a method commonly used to analyze microbial communities. Unlike conventional…
A new feature by Prateek Sharma, MD, and Jillian Mock examines two developments in endoscopy: successful repeat colonoscopy after an incomplete examination and the creation of a structured video databank for AI research. Repeat colonoscopy: A 24-year retrospective study of 1,334 patients at Indiana University found that repeat colonoscopy achieved 96.1% cecal intubation overall after an unsuccessful initial examination. Success rates were 97.0% for difficult sigmoid colons and 96.9% for redundant colons. Of 31 lesions measuring at least 20 mm detected during repeat colonoscopy, 20 had not been identified in prior radiographic studies. The findings support referral to experienced endoscopists…
Gastroenterology’s growing reliance on anesthesia-supported sedation is emerging as a constraint on endoscopy capacity, particularly in rural areas where workforce shortages have forced some ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and endoscopy centers to close for the day. According to Amy Oxentenko, MD, vice dean of practice and chief patient experience officer at Mayo Clinic, the dependency developed as procedures became more complex and patients presented with greater sedation-related risks. However, anesthesia support has increasingly become routine, even when moderate sedation administered by gastroenterologists may be appropriate.
In this clinical perspective, David A. Schwartz, MD, discusses evolving treatment strategies for perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease, emphasizing early advanced therapy and coordinated medical-surgical management. Anti-TNF agents, particularly infliximab, remain the best-established treatment option. The American Gastroenterological Association’s broader guidance supporting earlier advanced therapy in moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease reinforces the need to avoid prolonged ineffective conventional treatment, although it does not introduce new fistula-specific recommendations. For active fistulas without an abscess, combining a biologic with an antibiotic is recommended for induction of remission.
A retrospective analysis presented at the 2026 ASCO Breakthrough Meeting found that GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a lower five-year incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including those with coexisting type 2 diabetes. Led by Sarina Ailawadi, DO, of Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, the study used the TriNetX US healthcare database and propensity score matching to compare patients receiving GLP-1 therapies with matched nonusers. In the matched IBD cohort, five-year CRC incidence was 0.20% among GLP-1 users versus 0.43% among nonusers, corresponding to 51% lower odds. Among patients with…
A study published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics found that Haystack MRD, an ultrasensitive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) liquid biopsy test from Quest Diagnostics, accurately detected residual or recurrent colorectal cancer in an analysis of patient specimens from the DYNAMIC and DYNAMIC-III clinical trials. These trials investigated ctDNA-guided adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in stage II and stage III colorectal cancer. At three-year follow-up, the assay demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity; at five years, sensitivity was 83.3%, with specificity remaining at 100%. Over a median follow-up of 60 months, the test also outperformed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), detecting recurrence with 88.9%…