Newswise — New guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults are the first to recommend magnesium oxide and senna as evidence-based treatments. The first joint clinical practice guideline developed by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) published today in both societies’ scientific journals, ACG’s The American Journal of Gastroenterology and AGA’s Gastroenterology. An accompanying Clinical Support Decision Tool is available in Gastroenterology. Under the leadership of Lin Chang, MD, AGAF, FACG, and William D. Chey, MD, AGAF, FACG, a multidisciplinary guideline panel conducted systematic reviews of various over-the-counter and prescription pharmacological agents available for the treatment of…
Author: Rutali Thakur
Design innovations for duodenoscopes to reduce or eliminate infections have accelerated in the past few years. What are the current innovations and what is on the horizon? Will these designs improve patient safety? What are the financial implications for GI practices? AGA’s Innovation in Duodenoscope Design program aims to address these questions and more. The program includes webinars, editorials and podcasts that will examine the current landscape of duodenoscope designs and how it will impact clinical practice.
TAMPA, Fla., May 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Florida Medical Clinic announced today that it plans to add a Gastroenterology practice to its new Epperson/Watergrass Campus in July. The 32,000-square-foot campus opened in late September 2022. It sits in the heart of the Epperson and Watergrass neighborhoods in Wesley Chapel. The campus is designed to serve residents of these two new growing communities as well as surrounding areas, including Wesley Chapel and Dade City.
In recent years, we have seen a growing trend of large corporations acquiring primary care clinics. Earlier this month, the New York Times published an article entitled “Corporate Giants Buy Up Primary Care Practices at Rapid Pace.” While the title may accurately capture the pattern at the surface level, the article does not provide the full context and nuance needed to deeply understand this trend and its implications. Health plans, private equity firms, and retailers are absolutely racing to buy up physician practices. But the rise in ownership isn’t a guaranteed success — nor is it a guaranteed failure for the industry.
G&H What has recent research revealed about the rise in esophageal adenocarcinoma despite screening and surveillance for Barrett esophagus? AC Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has been increasing for several decades, and no one understands exactly what changed in our environment to cause the rise. There are etiologies one can speculate on. Obesity has increased and along with it, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased, although neither risk factor can entirely explain the rise in incidence. Obesity and GERD are known independent risk factors for EAC, but the odds ratios would only explain a fraction of the increasing incidence. We do not know what…
Though much of Freenome’s focus has been on its blood test for the early detection of colorectal cancer, the company is also in the process of building out its multiomics platform to be able to test for other types of cancer, too. A new acquisition aims to accelerate the latter goal. Freenome put down 13 million British pounds—or about $16.1 million—to absorb Oncimmune Limited and Oncimmune Europe GmbH, two subsidiaries of U.K.-based Oncimmune, another maker of early cancer diagnostics.
When we reflect on the overall impact of colorectal cancer screening over the past two decades, we see the result of a collaboration of physicians and organizations who joined forces to work toward one of our great public health successes. Though physicians have worked with scientists, public health professionals, professional organizations, advocacy groups and cancer survivors to make significant strides in CRC screening, this success story is still a work in progress. As pointed out in the cover story, there exist areas of disparity in screening and outcomes as well as a disturbing trend of rising incidence in younger adults.
When gastroenterologists learned in March that UnitedHealthcare plans to barricade many colonoscopies behind a controversial and complicated process known as prior authorization, their emotions cycled rapidly between fear, shock, and outrage. The change, which the health insurer will implement on June 1, means that any United member seeking surveillance and diagnostic colonoscopies to detect cancer will first need approval from United — or else have to pay out of pocket.
Hillsboro, Ohio-based Highland District Hospital has expanded its gastroenterology services through the addition of three Gastro Health physicians: Daniel Debo, DO; Andrew Chun, MD; and Robert Kindel, MD, according to a May 15 report from the hospital published in The Highland County Press.
Envision Healthcare has reached a restructuring agreement with its stakeholders, including ASC management center AmSurg, after announcing plans to file for bankruptcy. AmSurg plans to purchase the ASCs held by Envision. Here are six things to know about management giant AmSurg, according to its website: 1. AmSurg launched as an ASC management services company in 1992. 2. AmSurg has a network of more than 2,000 physician partners and 255 facilities across 34 states and Washington, D.C.