Gastroenterology may be entering a new technological era that could fundamentally change how digestive diseases are treated. At Cedars-Sinai, interventional gastroenterologist Barham Abu Dayyeh describes the next phase of the field as “Endoscopy 3.0”—a convergence of robotics, digital intelligence, and advanced energy technologies that could transform endoscopic care.
Author: Abhay Panchal
A new evaluation from the Peterson Health Technology Institute finds that virtual gastrointestinal care programs can improve patient outcomes while lowering healthcare costs, particularly for patients with IBS and moderate-to-severe IBD. GI conditions affect one in five U.S. adults and contribute to roughly $112 billion in annual healthcare spending, driven by diagnostic testing, procedures, medications, and hospital utilization. The report evaluated two main categories of virtual GI solutions. Wraparound GI Programs Programs such as Cylinder Health and Digbi Health provide virtual support services—such as coaching, nutrition counseling, and behavioral therapy—alongside a patient’s existing clinical care. The assessment found that these…
Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates has agreed to pay $4.75 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by receiving kickbacks for pathology referrals and performing medically unnecessary gastrointestinal pathology tests. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the GI practice entered into an arrangement with Advanced Pathology Solutions, a lab based in Arkansas, beginning in 2017. Under the agreement, the lab helped establish and operate a limited-capacity in-office pathology lab at the gastroenterology practice. In exchange for various operational benefits, the practice allegedly agreed to exclusively refer pathology interpretation services to the lab. Federal investigators claimed these benefits…
Targeted therapy has officially entered the first-line standard of care for a high-risk molecular subset of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Pfizer Inc. announced that the U.S. FDA granted full approval to BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) in combination with ERBITUX (cetuximab) and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for adults with BRAF V600E–mutant metastatic colorectal cancer. This marks the first fully approved biomarker-driven targeted regimen in the first-line setting for this aggressive CRC subtype. What Changed: From Accelerated to Full Approval The combination previously received accelerated approval in December 2024 based on response rate data. Full approval is supported by Phase 3 results from the BREAKWATER trial,…
Virtual multidisciplinary GI care is moving from pilot data to scaled performance metrics. Oshi Health released its 2025 Impact Report, presenting expanded real-world outcomes across its national patient population and matched claims analyses. The company reports sustained improvements in symptom control, preventive care compliance, and healthcare cost reduction—positioning its virtual-first GI model as a population-level intervention rather than a niche telehealth solution. Clinical Outcomes at Scale Across nationwide analyses through year-end 2025: Subpopulation findings presented at ACG 2025 showed similar consistency: Patient satisfaction reached 97–100% across cohorts
Artificial intelligence in colonoscopy is moving beyond detection. Medtronic has announced CE Mark approval for ColonPRO™, the fourth-generation software powering its GI Genius™ intelligent endoscopy system, marking a significant evolution from polyp detection toward full procedural intelligence. Originally introduced in 2019 as the first AI system to receive both CE Mark and FDA clearance for colorectal polyp detection, GI Genius established itself as a leader in computer-aided detection (CADe). With ColonPRO™, Medtronic is broadening its AI footprint across detection, characterization, measurement, and quality optimization.
The obesity treatment landscape continues to diversify beyond GLP-1 drugs and bariatric surgery. Allurion Technologies has received FDA premarket approval (PMA) for its Allurion Gastric Balloon System, marking a significant regulatory milestone for non-surgical, device-based obesity care in the U.S. The approval positions the company to compete in a rapidly evolving market increasingly defined by minimally invasive, tech-enabled solutions. What Makes It Different? Unlike traditional gastric balloons that require endoscopic placement and removal, the Allurion Smart Capsule is: The company describes the system as an AI-powered solution for weight loss, aiming to deliver four months of therapy from a single…
For over a century, the physician’s toolkit has looked remarkably similar: a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, clinical judgment, and referrals to centralized hospital-based diagnostics. Imaging required a radiology department. ECGs meant bulky machines. Ultrasound belonged in specialized rooms. Advanced diagnostics were physically—and operationally—separate from primary care. That model is rapidly changing. In the third decade of the 21st century, portable, AI-enabled, smartphone-connected medical devices have matured to the point where physicians can carry an entire diagnostic suite in a backpack. From digital stethoscopes with automated murmur detection to wallet-sized ECGs and handheld ultrasound systems benchmarked against cart-based machines, the…
As AI tools become embedded in clinical workflows—from note drafting to radiology reads—early evidence suggests that over-reliance may erode clinical skills, a phenomenon known as de-skilling. A 2025 study in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that endoscopists who routinely used AI-assisted adenoma detection experienced a decline in detection rates (29% to 22%) when AI was removed. The finding suggests sustained AI exposure may weaken independent diagnostic performance. Cognitive psychology research points to cognitive off-loading as a likely mechanism: when clinicians passively accept AI outputs, analytic reasoning declines. This risk appears especially pronounced among less experienced clinicians. Studies in radiology…
A large Swedish randomized trial (SCREESCO), published in Nature Medicine, evaluated over 278,000 60-year-olds assigned to: Unlike most prior trials, SCREESCO included a true usual-care control arm, allowing direct comparison of real-world screening impact. Key Findings Participants will be followed through 2030 to determine mortality impact.