GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide have transformed obesity care, offering dramatic weight loss and improved cardiometabolic outcomes. But according to JAMA Internal Medicine and Medscape, many physicians may be underutilizing their full clinical potential—or worse, putting patients at risk. This expert-backed guide outlines five common pitfalls doctors are making today: failing to monitor weight loss effectively, overlooking muscle mass preservation (up to 40% of weight loss may be muscle!), missing micronutrient deficiencies, ignoring the long-term relapse risk, and under-managing side effects like nausea or constipation. The piece also dives into practical strategies: how to assess treatment response, when to switch…
Author: Abhay Panchal
In a growing wave of cyberattacks targeting healthcare, three providers—Texas Digestive Specialists (Gastroenterology Consultants of South Texas), Infinite Services (New York), and High Point Treatment Center (Massachusetts)—have been struck by ransomware, with Interlock and Abyss groups claiming responsibility for two of the breaches. 🔒 Texas Digestive Specialists A May 2025 ransomware attack exposed the personal and medical data of 41,521 Texans, including names, addresses, medical records, and insurance information. The Interlock group, already on the FBI/CISA radar, claims to have stolen 263 GB of data now leaked on the dark web. The practice is enhancing its cybersecurity systems and offering…
U.S. News & World Report has released its annual rankings of the top hospitals for Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, evaluating 1,569 hospitals across the country. The top 50 institutions were recognized for their high volumes of complex GI cases and superior outcomes in treating challenging digestive disorders. The rankings reflect performance across a spectrum of GI conditions—including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cirrhosis, hepatitis, and cancers of the stomach, colon, and pancreas—as well as advanced surgical procedures. Metrics include survival rates, nurse staffing, patient experience, and the hospital’s reputation among specialists.
A massive retrospective analysis of over 83,000 emergency colorectal surgeries from the ACS-NSQIP database (2012–2021) shows robotic-assisted surgery significantly outperforms both laparoscopic and open approaches in select cases. Robotic procedures had fewer surgical complications, a shorter hospital stay, and far lower conversion rates to open surgery (7.8% vs. 24.2%). Adoption of robotic platforms grew from 0% to 6.6% during the study period—and is projected to rise to over 20% by 2025. While robotic surgery is typically reserved for clinically stable patients—such as those with diverticulitis or non-septic cancer—it’s increasingly seen as a viable option even in emergency settings.
Olympus and Revival Healthcare Capital have launched Swan EndoSurgical, a U.S.-based venture developing a next-gen endoluminal robot for minimally invasive GI procedures.Designed to overcome limitations of manual scopes, the flexible-armed platform may expand global access to advanced therapeutic endoscopy.
Two major reviews from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute spotlight a global surge in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers among adults under 50—with colorectal cancer leading the trend, followed by pancreatic, gastric, and esophageal cancers. Published in JAMA and the British Journal of Surgery, the findings highlight steep increases among younger age groups, especially those born after 1990.
In a sweeping 900-page proposal, CMS plans to eliminate the Inpatient Only (IPO) list over 3 years, starting with 285 procedures in 2026—mostly musculoskeletal—and add 547 procedures to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Covered Procedures List (ASC-CPL). The goal: expand outpatient surgical access and lower patient costs. Key updates include:
AGA presents a new season of Inside Scope based off the Perspectives column from our newspaper, GI & Hepatology News. In this series, we’ll feature guests debating or offering complementary opinions on current hot topics in GI. In this episode, filmed live at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2025, GI & Hepatology News editor Gyanprakash A. Ketwaroo, MD, MSc, hosts a discussion with Moamen Gabr, MD, MSC and Jeffrey D. Mosko, MD, MSc on the best practices for removing large or complex colon polyps.
MedCore Partners and GI Alliance have opened a new Ambulatory Surgery Center and managed clinic in Kansas City, designed for high-quality, outpatient GI care. The facility features advanced surgical suites, integrated tech, and seamless care coordination. This marks another strategic move by GI Alliance—now over 1,000 gastroenterologists strong—as it scales its national footprint through physician-led, state-of-the-art GI facilities.
Doximity has launched a free, HIPAA-compliant AI medical scribe available to all verified U.S. clinicians, undercutting high-cost competitors. The tool integrates seamlessly with its Dialer platform and aims to reduce burnout, especially in underserved clinics. With 80% of U.S. physicians on its network, Doximity is poised to reshape the ambient documentation space.