FAQs About the Practice
What is a Gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive and liver diseases. To be a fully-credentialed gastroenterologist, a physician must complete an additional fellowship training beyond their general internal medicine residency.
At Providence Gastroenterology and Liver Associates, our gastroenterologists are certified to be proficient in the performance of safe and effective endoscopic procedures. They are duly licensed in the state of Texas and are board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine with subspecialty in Gastroenterology.
What makes Providence Gastroenterology and Liver Associates different from other gastroenterology clinics?
Our gastroenterologists not only perform routine colonoscopy, they strive to provide a caring, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment of patients with an array of digestive and liver disorders. Beyond the typical gastroenterology services, we offer diagnosis and management of advanced liver disease, liver transplant evaluation, gastrointestinal cancers, and complicated pancreatic-biliary conditions. We have on staff a transplant hepatologist and an interventional endoscopist who both completed advanced training in addition to their prescribed, 3-yr fellowship in gastroenterology. Two of our gastroenterologists also hold advanced degrees in Clinical Research and Public Health; in addition to their medical doctorates. Our gastroenterologists are up-to-date with the latest clinical trials and guidelines in the care of patients with digestive and liver diseases.
What is the gastrointestinal tract?
The gastrointestinal, or “GI” tract for short, encompasses the organs related to digestion, nutrition, and metabolism. These organs include the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts.
The GI system is important in the overall well-being of the human body. It is often the site of disorders such as abdominal pain, inflammation, ulcers, internal bleeding, obstruction, infection, and even cancer.
A gastroenterologist is a physician who has specialized knowledge and skill to care for you in the event that you have a GI tract disorder.
What medical conditions can physicians at Providence and Gastroenterology and Liver Associates be of help?
Our gastroenterologists are able to help patients with the following gastrointestinal and liver conditions:
General gastroenterology:
- Abdominal pain
- Achalasia
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Bloating
- Cancers of the esophagus, stomach and small bowel
- Celiac disease (gluten sensitivity)
- Clostridium difficile infection
- Colitis (inflammation of the colon)
- Colon cancer screening
- Constipation
- Crohn’s disease
- Diarrhea
- Diverticulitis
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
- Fecal incontinence
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Gastroparesis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (heartburn)
- H. pylori infection
- Hemorrhoids
- Indigestion
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Malabsorption
- Microscopic colitis
- Nausea and vomiting
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Stomach ulcers
- Ulcerative colitis
- Unexplained weight loss
Pancreas & Biliary conditions:
- Bile duct stones
- Bile duct cysts
- Bile duct cancer
- Cholangitis (infection of the bile ducts)
- Gallstones
- Pancreas cancer
- Pancreatitis (acute and chronic)
- Pancreatic cysts
- Pancreatic fluid collections
Hepatology:
- Abnormal liver tests
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Ascites
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Drug-induced liver injury
- Esophageal varices
- Fatty liver disease
- Hemochromatosis
- Jaundice
- Liver cysts
- Liver cancer
- Liver failure
- Liver transplant evaluation
- Portal hypertension
- Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A, B and C)
- Wilson’s disease
What procedures do physicians at Providence and Gastroenterology and Liver Associates perform?
Our gastroenterologists are certified and experienced in the safe and effective performance of the following procedures:
Standard gastrointestinal procedures:
- Colonoscopy
- Colonoscopy with polyp removal
- Capsule endoscopy
- EGD / Upper endoscopy
- Esophageal manometry
- Esophageal variceal banding
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube
- Reflux testing
Liver-related studies:
- Elastography
- Liver biopsy
- Paracentesis
Advanced endoscopic procedures:
- Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- ERCP with cholangioscopy (spyglass)
- Endoscopic stenting
- Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) with fine needle aspiration
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Small bowel (balloon-assisted) enteroscopy