A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in
diseases of the digestive system, also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Gastroenterologists have extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of
conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine
(colon), and biliary system (e.g., liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts).
Gastroenterology is a subspecialty of internal medicine.
Gastroenterologists have a thorough understanding of how
food moves through the digestive tract (called motility) and the physical and
chemical break down of food (digestion), including the absorption of nutrients
and the removal of waste products.
Gastroenterologists also focus on the digestive function of
Gastroenterologists usually care for patients in an office
or hospital setting, including nursing homes and outpatient surgical centers.
They often serve as consultants to other physicians and may work in the
Gastroenterologists specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis,
management, and treatment of the following symptoms and conditions:
- Abdominal pain and discomfort
- Bleeding in the digestive tract
- Cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, stomach
[gastric] cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer)
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Difficulty swallowing
- Diverticular disease and other diseases of the
colon (e.g., polyps, irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], colitis, Crohn's disease)
- Gallbladder disease
- Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Hiatal hernias
- Inflammation in the digestive tract (e.g.,
- Liver disease (e.g., hepatitis, jaundice)
- Malabsorption disorders (e.g., celiac disease,
- Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting a gastroenterologist.
Choose a gastroenterologist who:
- Listens to your opinions and concerns
- Encourages you to ask questions
- Explains things in ways you can understand
When you and your doctor work together as a team, you’ll get
better health care. Try the following tips to find a doctor who’s right for
Always research your doctor. What you should know
about your doctor:
Locations and Gender.
License Information. It
is important to know if your doctor is licensed to provide the care that
learn more about your physician’s background EZDoctor Reports contain
information regarding where they studied, graduation date, board
certifications, as well as their internship, residency and fellowship. This
will help you make an educated decision regarding your doctor’s training and
Hospital Affiliations/Privileges. Its
common practice for a doctor to have their office in one location and perform
treatment in a separate location. For example, you could go to a doctor’s
office for a consultation regarding your knee and that doctor might provide
treatment and/or surgery at a hospital that he is affiliated with or has
privileges. By having this information before hand, it can help you in deciding
whether this doctor would be the most convenient for you.
Information. When taking care of any health concern, one of the main
things we consider is the cost associated with any procedures that might be
necessary. An EZDoctor report will display an average charge for procedures
performed by the physician you are reviewing.
Patient Referral Summary. Primary
care physicians, when needed, refer patients to a specialist. Especially when
they face a diagnosis that is beyond their Scope of Practice. With an EZDoctor
report you will see the physician’s referral pattern.
Habits. Is your doctor more likely to prescribe a name brand versus a
generic drug? Despite your preference, by seeing a breakdown of the most common
prescriptions a physician orders you can get a clear view of his prescribing
tendencies and average price per prescription.
Disciplinary Actions. Finding
out if a physician has been sanctioned or not by a state medical board can be
very useful when it comes to selecting a doctor to visit. Equally important is
to know what those infractions were related to.
Criminal Offenses. While
federal criminal records are not available to the public, EZDoctor reports
include state government records that indicate whether a physician has ever
been charged or convicted of a crime. Allowing you to have this information
prior to any consultation and/or treatment.
Claims. You have the right to know if your physician has been involved
in any incidents regarding his medical care. From surgical and medication
errors to misdiagnoses, EZDoctor will provide the information you need.
Reviews. It’s always good to know what other patients are saying about
a physician. EZDoctor reports collect patient reviews from multiple sources.
Other important questions to ask about the doctor:
Is the doctor taking new patients?
Is the doctor part of a group practice? Who are
the other doctors?
Who will see you if your doctor isn’t available?
Which hospital does the doctor use?
If you have a medical condition, does the doctor
have experience treating it?
What languages does the doctor speak?
You can find all the information you need on a physician by
obtaining an EZDoctor
Report. Go to ezdoctor.com now to
Source: healthfinder.gov, healthcommunities.com