Patients who have ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease often report symptoms without showing endoscopic evidence of the disease, and their providers struggle to make sense of the disparity. In a new study, investigators used fecal calprotectin levels to assess symptoms most associated with disease activity. “A patient will say they’re having lots and lots of symptoms, but we don’t find inflammation during a colonoscopy, which means we need to investigate other causes,” said Kerri Glassner, DO, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City, who was not involved in…
Author: Abhay Panchal
CHICAGO—While artificial intelligence is increasingly seen as a means of improving endoscopy, studies at Digestive Disease Week 2023 hinted at a potential flaw: It may not be as effective outside of the controlled environment of randomized trials, that is, in routine community practice. “We did not see an increase in adenoma detection rate [ADR] with CADe [computer-aided detection] over baseline and saw no improvement in any performance tertile,” reported investigator Uri Ladabaum, MD, who presented results of one large study in the community setting. “There was also no significant difference between the outcomes of endoscopists in the CADe study sites…
Jamie M. Horrigan, MD, a chief resident in internal medicine at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), has been honored by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation New England Chapter as the 2023 Rising Community Leader in IBD. The recognition was given during the foundation’s annual “Stories from the Gut” event. Dr. Horrigan, who herself has Crohn’s, was nominated for her advocacy efforts, particularly her Instagram account and blog, “Sweetened by Nature,” where she shares insights to assist those with IBD. Through her advocacy, she successfully fundraised $8,000 for the foundation, surpassing her initial goal of $5,000. Dr. Corey A.…
Gastro Health, GI Alliance and PE GI Solutions, One GI and United Digestive are five of the largest private equity-backed gastroenterology groups in the industry. Here’s a breakdown of some of the must-know gastroenterology front-runners: Affiliated physicians:
US Digestive Health has expanded its network in Pennsylvania by incorporating nine new physicians. The newly added physicians and their respective practice locations include Dr. Faiz Afridi in Langhorne, Dr. Maggie Cheung in East Norriton, Lansdale-Sumneytown, and Sellersville, Dr. Ashley Davis in Langhorne, Dr. Scott Douglas in Elizabethtown, Lancaster, and Oregon Pike, and several others in various locations. US Digestive Health, a management services organization, operates across Pennsylvania and Delaware, supporting 33 locations, 19 Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), over 250 gastroenterology providers, and approximately 1,100 employees.
An international group has introduced the first clinical guidelines for diagnosing and treating childhood eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) beyond eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) due to limited existing research. Collaboratively developed by European and North American pediatric gastroenterology societies, these guidelines categorize non-EoE EGIDs by inflammation location and offer diagnostic and treatment advice. Emphasis is placed on individualized care and the importance of discussing long-term treatment implications with patients and caregivers. The rise in GI eosinophil diseases is noted, and the guidelines aim to aid non-specialized professionals in patient management.
Employed doctors have been very clear about how little they enjoy business responsibilities and how much they like a steady income. In our 2014 report on employed physicians, these two job features also were in physicians’ top three. “That’s fairly intuitive,” says Tommy Bohannon, VP of strategy for AMN Healthcare’s physician & leadership solutions division based in Dallas. “The two reasons that most physicians decide not to go into private practice are to avoid having to be a small business owner and to have a predictable income.” Bohannon doesn’t think most doctors focus on whether managers do their jobs well…
Pediatric colorectal and pelvic floor disorders often remain undiscussed due to the embarrassment they cause. Many U.S. medical centers aren’t equipped to treat these conditions. The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Colorectal and Pelvic Anomalies Program is an exception, treating around 200 patients annually for various complex disorders. Established in 2017, the program offers comprehensive care, including repairing anorectal malformations. Dr. Gayer, a co-director, believes they’re only addressing a fraction of the community’s needs and aims to raise awareness. Transitioning from pediatric to adult care presents challenges, especially with insurance. Effective treatment requires dedicated and passionate providers.
Dr. Russ Arjal, co-founder and chief medical officer of Telebelly Health, joins The Scope Forward show to discuss the future of gastroenterology and the role of technology in reshaping the field. With a focus on patient-centric care and the integration of AI, Dr. Arjal provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing GI practitioners today. Watch this super insightful interview.
The article emphasizes the significance of a multidisciplinary approach in treating gastroenterology patients, particularly those with inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome. While medications are essential, the role of diet and behavioral therapy as supplementary treatments is gaining recognition. An integrative approach can enhance patient care, potentially reducing health care utilization and costs. However, challenges like access to dietitians and psychologists or reimbursement for their services persist. Collaborative efforts, such as regular conferences to discuss complex cases with specialists, can be invaluable. Some centers, like the Mayo Clinic, have even integrated dietitians and psychologists into their daily practices to…