More than 60 million Americans have gastrointestinal (GI) issues addressed by a physician every year. Plus, with the heightened public awareness surrounding the importance of getting a colonoscopy to help prevent colon cancer and colorectal cancer, patients know that a gastroenterologist is the best doctor to perform this potentially life-saving procedure.
Let’s talk about what a typical day is like for a gastroenterologist, and where you can go in Westlake or Brooklyn for world-class gastroenterology care.
What Do Gastroenterology Physicians Do?
Gastroenterologists address any abnormalities in the GI tract, which runs from the mouth to the anus. In addition to performing colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures (an endoscopy is done to evaluate the throat and esophagus), GI doctors treat issues such as:
- Heartburn
- Persistent sore throat
- Trouble swallowing
- Acid reflux
- Pancreatic disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the colon in which ulcers develop along the intestine)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Colon cancer
When performing a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist will remove any and all polyps that are found. Polyps may be precancerous, which is why their removal is so essential and is often even curative.
What Practicing Gastroenterologists Do Every Day
The first thing most GI specialists do in the morning is check their scheduled patient appointments for the day. Doctors may hold a team meeting to discuss various issues before conducting their appointments or performing procedures.
Gastroenterologists spend most of their day seeing patients. On days when these doctors see patients in the office, they first record each patient’s health issues, then review their medical history, and conduct a physical evaluation. On days when a gastroenterologist is performing an endoscopy or a colonoscopy, they may go to an outpatient clinic or a hospital to perform the procedures.
The specialists may personally call their patients to share and explain a new diagnosis, to plan the next steps of their medical regimen, or to follow up on a treatment plan. Physicians often spend time with patients that would otherwise be spent taking breaks or lunch.
Diagnostic and Treatment Processes
A GI doctor might ask a patient to undergo certain types of tests, such as:
- Blood tests
- Stool samples
- Barium enema exams
Gastroenterologists have to be prepared for on-call surgeries. GI doctors might even spend their whole day in outpatient facilities or hospitals performing surgical procedures.
GI Physician in Cuyahoga County, OH
Being a successful GI physician demands patience, thoroughness, and dedication. After all, it is their utmost priority to treat their patients in order to achieve optimum health, and the digestive tract can be tricky – with many different health conditions that have overlapping symptoms but different treatments.
Here at North Shore Gastroenterology, we have numerous board-certified and experienced GI doctors and friendly medical staff who are ready to help you. We take pride in our comprehensive suite of on-site diagnostic and treatment services, including colonoscopy, endoscopy, and colon cancer screenings. Our patients can have all of their GI needs taken care of under one roof.
We have convenient offices located in Westlake and Brooklyn, Ohio. For your convenience, you can fill out our online request form or call us at (440) 808-1212 to arrange an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!