The article explains how AI agents—autonomous systems powered by tools like large language models—can streamline clinical and administrative tasks in gastroenterology practices. Specifically, it highlights how AI can optimize revenue cycle management by improving coding accuracy, predicting claim denials, and automating appeals. It also shows how AI can accelerate prior authorization processes by extracting necessary data from electronic health records, submitting complete documentation, and tracking approvals in real time.
Author: Abhay Panchal
A new study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that using WATS-3D, a wide-area transepithelial sampling tool with 3D computer-assisted analysis, alongside traditional forceps biopsies (FB) significantly increases detection of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and dysplasia in patients with GERD undergoing screening endoscopy. In a registry of nearly 24,000 patients, WATS-3D identified BE in nearly 20% of cases missed by FB alone and doubled the detection of dysplasia. The tool also led to changes in clinical management in over 90% of cases with positive WATS-3D and negative FB results. Authors and experts suggest WATS-3D is a valuable adjunct to…
This first-ever ACG guideline addresses gastric premalignant conditions—including atrophic gastritis, gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), dysplasia, and certain epithelial polyps—due to their potential progression to gastric adenocarcinoma (GC). Although the U.S. is a low-incidence country for GC, certain non-White and immigrant populations experience significantly higher rates, making GC an underrecognized health disparity.
Guardant Health’s Shield™ blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is now covered with no copay for U.S. veterans and eligible family members aged 45–84 under the VA Community Care Network. This marks the first coverage of the test for individuals younger than 65 and outside the Medicare population. Shield, FDA-approved in July 2024, is the first blood-based CRC screening test for average-risk individuals and can be prescribed by any provider. This expansion significantly increases access to early cancer detection for over 9 million VA beneficiaries.
PathAI announced that its AIM-MASH AI Assist tool is now the first and only AI-assisted pathology assessment technology qualified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) CHMP for use in MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) clinical trials. The tool aids a single central pathologist in evaluating liver biopsies for both trial enrollment and endpoint assessment—potentially replacing multi-pathologist consensus reads. Clinical validation showed it outperformed human assessment for key features like inflammation and ballooning. This qualification marks a major step forward in AI-driven pathology and could accelerate drug development in MASH by ensuring more consistent, scalable biopsy analysis.
In a groundbreaking move, the FDA has cleared Nanosonics’ CORIS system—the first automated device designed to clean the hard-to-reach internal channels of flexible endoscopes, a known source of hospital-acquired infections. The system targets resilient biofilm that standard manual cleaning often misses.
In this special crossover episode with Physicianary, previous Gut Talk guest, Austin Chiang, MD, and Physicianary host, Hansa Bhargava, MD, discuss the influence of social media in medicine and how AI continues to change the health care landscape.
This study evaluated the real-world use of a mobile app developed to support colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and post-polypectomy surveillance based on updated guidelines. Used over 12,000 times by healthcare professionals in Catalonia, the app helped optimize decision-making—particularly by reducing unnecessary colonoscopies. It recommended fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) for average-risk screening and deferred follow-up in 50% of surveillance cases. With a 72% retention rate, the app showed strong adoption and potential to enhance guideline adherence and resource use in CRC care.
A decade-long study from Weill Cornell Medicine shows that endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) delivers sustained long-term weight loss without the need for weight-loss medications. Among 110 patients who only had ESG, the average total body weight loss (TBWL) at 10 years was 10.5%, with over half maintaining at least 5% TBWL. ESG was well tolerated, with only mild and transient side effects. The findings reinforce ESG’s effectiveness and safety as a durable, minimally invasive obesity treatment option.
In this discussion, Dr. Peter Buch and Dr. Aasma Shaukat explore the evolving landscape of colon cancer screening. While stool-based tests like FIT and multitarget DNA remain standard, screening rates are still low. With the rise of noninvasive blood-based options, accessibility is improving. Dr. Shaukat shares insights on the effectiveness of current and emerging methods, and strategies for boosting screening uptake.