Private equity activity in gastroenterology is slowing in frequency, even as deal sizes and consolidation momentum grow. This shift is reshaping the specialty and raising new challenges for independent GI groups and ASCs. Key Takeaways Deal volume is falling fastGI PE transactions plunged by 50% from 2022 to 2023 (26 to 13 deals). This mirrors a broader healthcare slowdown, where overall PE deals fell 16.2% in 2023. Bigger, more strategic dealsThe slowdown hasn’t stopped major players like GI Alliance, Gastro Health, and United Digestive from expanding. Their moves now focus on add-on acquisitions and recapitalizations, such as GI Alliance’s $785M…
Author: Abhay Panchal
Iterative Health and One GI® have announced a strategic partnership to make clinical research a core service in community-based gastroenterology. By combining One GI’s physician-led network of 34 clinics across six states with Iterative Health’s operational expertise, the collaboration aims to expand patient access to cutting-edge therapies without requiring them to leave their trusted providers. Key Takeaways Research as standard careThe partnership positions clinical trials not as a side activity but as a mainstay service across One GI’s practices—bringing innovation directly into community gastroenterology. Expanding patient accessWith 13 active research sites now integrated into Iterative Health’s global network, more patients…
The American Gastroenterological Association has teamed up with healthcare data analytics firm Latica to pioneer a real-world evidence (RWE) study in ulcerative colitis using AI and natural language processing (NLP). The study will leverage de-identified electronic health record data from major GI practice networks—Gastro Health (Miami) and Allied Digestive Health (New Jersey)—to explore how cutting-edge clinical guidelines play out in community care. Key Takeaways Living guidelines in action: Unlike static protocols, this study uses living clinical guidelines—constantly updated to reflect new therapies and evolving practice patterns. Tracking what matters: Researchers will measure treatment adoption, patient pathways, remission rates, hospitalizations, and…
A survey at Mass General Brigham and Emory Healthcare found that ambient documentation technology (ADT)—AI-driven tools that passively draft clinical notes—significantly eased documentation burden. At Mass General, burnout dropped from 51% to 30% within three months of adoption. At Emory, documentation-related well-being jumped from 2% to 32%. Clinicians noted more time with patients and improved “joy in practice,” though limitations included low survey response rates and mixed feedback on efficiency for certain visit types. While early results suggest ADT can reduce burnout and strengthen patient engagement, long-term sustainability and broader scalability remain open questions.
Healthcare’s future may be defined less by new tools and more by how wisely we use the data already at our fingertips. Rajan Kohli argues that while healthcare generates nearly 30% of the world’s data, most of it never informs patient care. The real challenge is utilization, not collection. He envisions a system built on “Healthcare Live”—real-time data exchange, adaptive workflows, and machine reasoning—that can move care beyond episodic visits to continuous, proactive intervention. Examples like Abbott’s Libre glucose monitors feeding data straight into medical records show how close this future is. But Kohli cautions against simply “digitizing old problems.”…
A new analysis presented at DDW 2025 shows just how much a gastroenterologist’s vs. a surgeon’s perspective can shape GERD treatment. The study compared three guideline sets: AGA (largely GI-authored evidence), ACG (almost entirely GI-driven), and a multi-society consensus (dominated by surgical literature with some GI input). The divide was striking: The result? Patients may be directed toward very different management pathways depending on whether they start with a GI or a surgeon.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) is emerging as a compelling alternative to surgical bypass and enteral stenting. By deploying a lumen-apposing stent under ultrasound guidance, the technique mimics a surgical gastrojejunostomy—without the scalpel. A January 2025 Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology review reports pooled success rates above 90%, with fewer complications than surgery and lower recurrence than stenting. Could EUS-GE soon redefine the standard of care for gastric outlet obstruction?
The COLONPREV randomized trial compared invitations to biennial FIT versus a one-time colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening across 53,000 people in Spain. After 15 years, mortality from CRC was virtually identical between groups. While colonoscopy detected more advanced precancerous polyps, FIT achieved higher participation and similar cancer outcomes. But here’s the twist: only about one-third of invitees actually got screened — far below the 80% uptake goal set by the U.S. National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. That low participation clouds the real-world meaning of the results. So, does this trial reaffirm colonoscopy as the “gold standard,” or does it bolster the…
Up to 44% of colonoscopies still suffer from poor bowel prep — leading to missed lesions, longer procedures, and higher costs. In their latest review, Marcello Maida, Alexander D. Grieme, Yizhong Wu, and colleagues spotlight advances reshaping prep: from ultra-low-volume PEG regimens and split dosing <5 hours before procedures to AI-enabled prediction tools for personalizing prep. Even simple changes, like shifting from multi-day restrictions to a 1-day low-fiber diet, are boosting patient compliance. But risk factors like age, comorbidities, and socioeconomic barriers persist, leaving the field searching for sharper, more adaptive strategies.
A new Kaufman Hall report finds physicians are logging record productivity (12% YoY increase in work RVUs) while support staff has dropped 13%. Despite more work, reimbursement per unit has fallen 7% and expenses keep climbing. Experts warn burnout will rise unless systemic changes — or tech adoption like AI documentation tools — fill the gap. And with over $1 trillion in federal healthcare cuts from the new “Big Beautiful Bill,” the pressure is only expected to grow.