A study has found that electronic health record (EHR) use contributes significantly to workload and burnout among gastroenterology providers.Analyzing data from 347 clinicians across three tertiary referral centers, researchers found that hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and motility specialists spent the most time in the EHR, including outside regular work hours. In-basket messaging and documentation were identified as the biggest stressors, with over 30% of surveyed providers reporting burnout.
Author: Abhay Panchal
In an article by Donavyn Coffey, the growing influence of private equity in healthcare is examined, highlighting both opportunities and risks for physicians. While selling practices to private equity firms can offer financial relief, operational support, and early payouts, some physicians report loss of autonomy, pay cuts, and even clinic closures after acquisition. Experts note that many deals provide less upfront cash than initially advertised and often require physicians to remain with the practice for 3–5 years under new management. While some doctors benefit from expanded resources and scale, others caution that physicians should carefully evaluate investors and financial terms…
Guardant Health announced that its blood-based colorectal cancer screening test Shield is now accessible nationwide through the testing network of Quest Diagnostics. The partnership allows physicians to order Shield through existing Quest accounts and EHR systems, while patients can access testing through Quest’s ~2,000 patient service centers and 6,000 phlebotomists. Shield is the first blood test fully approved by the FDA as a primary colorectal cancer screening option for average-risk adults aged 45+. The company reports that the test has shown 93% screening adherence in real-world use, offering a potentially easier alternative to colonoscopy or stool-based screening and aiming to…
AcuityMD, the intelligence platform for MedTech, announced data revealing increased access to colorectal screening and early treatment at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Across the U.S., the majority of all endoscopic colorectal procedures are now performed in ASCs, lowering barriers to care for patients who might delay or avoid screening. ASCs handled nearly 9 million endoscopic colorectal procedures in 2024 alone, a 50% volume increase since 2018.
In a commentary by David A. Johnson, MD, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is highlighted as a condition that is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in both adults and children. Referencing updated guidance from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Dr. Johnson notes that endoscopy remains central to EoE diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment decisions. Clinicians are encouraged to use the EoE Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS), obtain at least six esophageal biopsies, and evaluate for strictures, which occur in about 25% of adults. He also emphasizes the importance of ongoing follow-up, as EoE can recur quickly after treatment is stopped.
With GI cancers expected to double globally by 2050 and colorectal cancer rising among younger adults, clinicians are exploring new technologies to improve detection and treatment. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center recently tested a system combining GI Genius endoscopy module (by Medtronic) with Apple Vision Pro, turning the headset into a “clinical cockpit” for endoscopy.
Widely used GLP-1 receptor agonists, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, may be associated with a small increase in colorectal cancer risk, according to a recent meta-analysis discussed by oncology expert David Kerr, MD, of the University of Oxford. The analysis pooled data from seven retrospective cohort studies involving more than 5 million individuals. Researchers found a slight but statistically significant increase in colorectal cancer risk among patients using GLP-1 drugs. GLP-1 medications—such as those used for weight loss and diabetes—are often expected to reduce cancer risk because they lower body weight and adiposity, both known risk factors…
Becker’s Healthcare asked C-suite executives from hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and universities across the U.S. to share the most pressing workforce challenges facing healthcare in 2026 and the strategies organizations are using to address them. The article features insights from 103 healthcare leaders, all of whom are scheduled to speak at the 16th Annual Becker’s Healthcare Meeting, taking place April 13–16, 2026, in Chicago. The discussion is part of an ongoing Becker’s series highlighting perspectives from healthcare executives participating in the conference. The leaders outline key workforce issues ranging from staff shortages and burnout to recruitment, retention, and…
The FDA has cleared the Xpert GI Panel from Cepheid, a multiplex PCR test that detects 11 gastrointestinal pathogens from a single stool sample in just over an hour. The panel identifies eight bacteria, two parasites, and one virus commonly responsible for diarrheal syndromes acquired outside hospital settings. The test runs on Cepheid’s GeneXpert platform and can simultaneously detect multiple pathogens using a 10-color module. Traditional microbiology testing for diarrheal illnesses often requires multiple cultures and can take several days, sometimes missing coinfections or low-abundance pathogens. With an estimated 179 million cases of acute gastroenteritis occurring annually in the U.S.,…
A new document from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) highlights the continued underrepresentation of women in gastroenterology and academic medicine. In 2016, only 16.4% of practicing gastroenterologists in the U.S. were women, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). By 2021, that number had increased slightly to 19.7%. Encouragingly, 38% of first-year GI fellows were women in 2022–2023, suggesting that the pipeline of female gastroenterologists is growing.