Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating rapidly across healthcare, with a new survey finding that nearly three-quarters of physicians and 70% of nurses now use AI at least once a week at work—up sharply from 38% and 46%, respectively, just one year ago. Clinicians are increasingly using AI for tasks such as summarizing medical literature, analyzing data, and generating clinical documentation through AI scribes. Patients are also embracing the technology, with many using AI to better understand diagnoses, medications, and test results. Yet the survey reveals a growing tension: while AI is helping address workforce pressures and administrative burdens, clinicians worry…
Author: Rutali Thakur
Despite earning an average of $530,000 in 2025, many gastroenterologists feel their compensation does not reflect the demands of the specialty, according to Medscape’s 2026 Gastroenterologist Compensation Report. Nearly half (46%) said they are not fairly compensated, while 61% believe gastroenterologists are underpaid overall. The survey also found that most physicians either did not negotiate aggressively or had no opportunity to negotiate their contracts, highlighting a perceived gap between compensation levels and the workload, complexity, and pressures associated with GI practice.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has reaffirmed that average-risk adults should begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45 and continue through age 75, while incorporating newly approved stool-based and blood-based screening technologies into its updated guidance. The ACS continues to favor stool-based tests, including next-generation stool DNA and stool RNA assays, citing their strong ability to detect colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions. In contrast, blood-based screening tests demonstrated lower sensitivity for early-stage cancers and advanced precancerous lesions and are recommended primarily for individuals who decline or do not complete preferred screening options. Importantly, the guideline reinforces that screening participation matters…
Despite growing adoption of stool- and blood-based colorectal cancer screening tests, GI leaders say colonoscopy demand continues to rise, particularly in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). In fact, many believe noninvasive screening is expanding the screening funnel rather than replacing colonoscopy. Industry experts note that positive results from at-home screening tests still require follow-up colonoscopy, while rising colorectal cancer rates in younger adults are driving greater screening awareness and procedure volumes. Nearly 60% of endoscopic colorectal procedures are now performed in ASCs, which handled almost 9 million procedures in 2024, a 50% increase since 2018. The article reinforces a growing consensus…
The American College of Physicians (ACP) is calling for stronger oversight of private equity in healthcare, warning that the industry’s focus on short-term returns may conflict with long-term patient care, physician autonomy, and practice sustainability. The position paper notes that private equity acquisitions of physician practices increased more than sixfold between 2012 and 2021, with gastroenterology ranking among the most targeted specialties, accounting for 120 acquisitions. ACP cites evidence linking private equity ownership to higher healthcare costs, reduced physician autonomy, increased use of nonphysician providers, and no consistent improvements in quality outcomes. While acknowledging that private equity can provide capital,…
Following the release of Chapter 1 of GI 2.0: The Playbook, several gastroenterology leaders shared thoughtful reactions on the future of procedures, AI, value-based care, and the evolving role of GI practices. Interestingly, many of the themes emerging today — including care delivery transformation, technology adoption, and evolving GI practice models — were already being discussed nearly two decades ago in an AGA Institute Future Trends Report published in 2006. What feels new today may actually represent the acceleration of longer-term structural shifts within gastroenterology. While perspectives differed, several common themes emerged repeatedly: The insights below are drawn from private…
Iterative Health has raised $77 million in a Series C funding round to expand its AI-powered clinical research network. The company focuses on improving clinical trial execution by embedding research directly into clinical care, using centralized operations, AI technology, and a global network of over 100 research sites. Its model has shown faster site activation and higher patient enrollment rates compared to industry benchmarks. The new funding will support expansion beyond gastroenterology into areas like cardiology and obesity, as well as further geographic growth and partnerships with healthcare providers and research organizations.
Creative approaches to salvage patients with poor bowel preparations and appropriate application of computer-aided detection, narrow band imaging, and other technologies are important strategies that can improve colonoscopies. At the 2026 Expert Strategies in Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal and Liver Disorders symposium, Douglas K. Rex, MD, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Medicine and clinical gastroenterologist at Indiana University, in Indianapolis, recommended these and other strategies to optimize colonoscopy outcomes.
What to Do When Procedures Are No Longer Enough An upcoming book by Dr. Charles Accurso and Praveen Suthrum We’re writing this in real time—sharing chapters as they develop. Bookmark this page to follow the journey. Premise Most gastroenterology practices generate the majority of their revenue from procedures. That has worked well—and continues to work. But it also creates a blind spot. A growing share of value in GI is now being created outside the procedure room: Many practices see this happening but don’t act—not because they disagree, but because the path forward is unclear. There are too many options:…
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — April 08, 2026 — Scope Forward, in collaboration with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), today announced the launch of GI Mastermind Virtual, a self-paced professional development program designed to help gastroenterologists and GI leaders understand and navigate the structural changes currently reshaping the field. As artificial intelligence, automation, and evolving care models accelerate across healthcare, many clinicians are beginning to recognize that these forces represent more than incremental change—they point to a broader shift in how gastroenterology is practiced, organized, and led. GI Mastermind Virtual provides a structured framework to better understand these changes and their implications…