Gastroenterology faces a dynamic mix of innovations and challenges, with advancements opening new possibilities while pressures mount. Rising rates of GI cancers among younger Americans, coupled with declining reimbursements, staffing shortages, and inflation, continue to test practices. Additionally, new colonoscopy quality indicators further raise the bar, placing more demands on practices.However, Dr. Shabail Mazumdar of Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin believes that navigating these pressures can become seamless with the right team and culture.
Author: Abhay Panchal
Aiming to halt the financial tactics of private equity (PE) firms in healthcare, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other lawmakers reintroduced the Stop Wall Street Looting Act. The bill seeks to close regulatory loopholes and end the incentives that allow PE firms to accumulate profits at the expense of communities, workers, and businesses.The lawmakers referenced Cerberus Capital Management’s acquisition of hospitals as a prime example, where facilities were burdened with debt while the firm profited, leaving essential community services in disrepair. “Private equity takeovers are legal looting,” Warren said, arguing the bill will prevent future cases like the Steward Health Care…
A new study presented at the 2024 United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week reveals that computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) systems perform differently depending on the region of the colon, with lower accuracy in identifying polyps in the proximal colon compared to the distal colon. Led by Dr. Tommy Rizkala of the IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, the study analyzed 7,782 polyps ≤5 mm and highlighted that CADx systems show significantly lower specificity in the proximal colon, despite comparable sensitivity across regions. This finding raises concerns about using CADx tools beyond the rectosigmoid colon, suggesting the need for more advanced systems trained…
Oshi Health, a leading virtual gastrointestinal (GI) center of excellence, has secured $60 million in Series C funding, led by Oak HC/FT, to meet the rising demand for digestive health solutions. With 40 million people now able to access Oshi’s in-network services, the company aims to address a growing healthcare challenge—digestive issues account for 25% of all Americans’ medical conditions and rank as the top cause of avoidable ER visits.
Gastroenterologist compensation has seen steady growth in recent years, while burnout has slightly decreased. Here are 10 key insights into the GI workforce in 2024:
In 2024, over 18,700 gastroenterologists were practicing in the U.S., treating conditions involving the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and other GI organs. Most procedures are performed in outpatient settings, offering significant sales opportunities for medical devices and supplies.Below is a list of 20 hospitals ranked by outpatient gastroenterology procedure volumes, as provided by Definitive Healthcare.
Mainz Biomed N.V., a company specializing in early cancer detection, has reported growing demand for its enhanced ColoAlert colorectal cancer (CRC) screening product, launched in July 2024. This advanced DNA biomarker-based test is being adopted by laboratory partners across Europe and select international markets. One of the first adopters is GANZIMMUN Diagnostics, a leading German laboratory, which will fully implement the enhanced ColoAlert by early 2025. The updated product features improved sample processing and usability, reducing retesting rates and offering quicker results, typically within 2–3 days.
Denmark’s Zealand Pharma and German partner Boehringer Ingelheim have received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their experimental weight-loss drug, survodutide, aimed at treating non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a type of fatty liver disease. This designation allows for a speedier review process, indicating the drug’s potential to address a significant unmet medical need.
New research offers hope for improving the lives of those living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, conditions that affect as many as three million Americans. Matt Baker, who has lived with ulcerative colitis since college, describes the often crippling pain associated with the disease. While medications helped initially, Baker eventually enrolled in a clinical trial at University Gastroenterology to test Ozanimod, a once-daily pill that reduces intestinal inflammation. Since starting the trial, Baker has experienced significant improvements in his quality of life, with fewer and milder flare-ups.
In a recent video, Dr. Craig Munroe highlighted how updated quality indicators for colonoscopy, set by the ACG and ASGE, could enhance patient outcomes by raising procedural standards. Key updates include benchmarks for adenoma detection rate (ADR), sessile serrated detection rate, appropriate use of screening intervals, bowel prep adequacy, and cecal intubation rate. Munroe emphasized that the new 35% ADR threshold can help prevent colon cancer by ensuring more thorough examinations. Additionally, advancements in medical technology, he noted, play a crucial role in improving colorectal cancer detection, treatment, and follow-up.