Choosing a Specialist for your Gastroenterology Procedure

Author: Archana Jhawar

If you have a gastroenterological disease and have been recommended to carry out a gastroenterology procedure to deal with the condition, you want to make sure that you are associating with the right specialist. People are often confused about which doctor to see for their treatment. Not all gastrointestinal doctors (Gastroenterologist) are alike as they differ in both experience and training. The specialist you choose will have a great impact on the treatment of your gastrointestinal condition and will make all the difference, especially if you undergoing a complex gastroenterology procedure.

What does a gastroenterologist do?

To begin with, let’s discuss what a gastroenterologist does. A gastroenterologist is a physician who has special training to deal with and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is the system that is responsible for digesting and eliminating food. A gastroenterologist is well versed in handling all kinds of gastroenterology procedures such as colonoscopies, upper GI endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double balloon enteroscopy, liver biopsy, ERCP, EUS and more.

What to consider when choosing a gastroenterological specialist

There are quite a few things to keep in mind before you choose a doctor to treat your gastrointestinal condition:

  • 1. Location of their office
  • 2. The qualifications of the specialist. (For instance, the experience and credentials of the doctor, the range of services they offer, do they participate in any education or research etc.)
  • 3. Past patient satisfaction
  • 4. Outcome (How do well have other past patients recovered.)

What to consider when choosing a hospital

  • 1. Location of the hospital
  • 2. Training and experience of its surgeons
  • 3. The amount of procedures and surgeries the hospital provides. It is a good choice if it performs a high number of procedures or surgeries you may need.

Where to begin?

The very first thing you should do is speak to the specialists who have shortlisted so that you may find out as much information about them as you possibly need. This will allow you to make an informed and quality decision.

You could also ask your family doctor to recommend a specialist in gastroenterology or colorectal surgery if you or a family member if suffering from gastrointestinal disease. It is important that this specialist have adequate knowledge and experience in the diagnosis as well as the complete range of treatments for your specific gastrointestinal condition.

Find out the contact details of hospitals or specialists who are using the newest, most effective treatments.

Questions to ask your specialist

When you zero in on a specialist, here are a few questions to ask them.

  • 1. Have you had formal training in gastrointestinal procedures?
  • 2. Are you a licensed medical practitioner?
  • 3. Where did you receive your training and complete your residency?
  • 4. How many people do you diagnose and treat in a year for gastrointestinal conditions?
  • 5. How many XYZ procedures have you taken care of during your time as a gastroenterology specialist?
  • 6. Do you work with a healthcare team? And if so, who are they and what are their specialties?
  • 7. If I need a second opinion, would you be able to recommend another gastroenterology specialist for the same?
  • 8. What are my treatment options?
  • 9. Are your going to be involved in any of my treatment or follow-up?
  • 10. If I have questions about my condition and procedure at any time, will you help me with answers?