Gastroenterology at PeaceHealth Cordata Main Clinic

Specialty Care for Stomach & Digestive Problems

Gastroenterology is the medical specialty that diagnoses and treats problems with the digestive system, including esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. Providers in this field are sometimes referred to as “GIs,” which is for short for “gastrointestinal.”

The most common conditions treated by gastroenterologists include:

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)
• Crohn's Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Liver Disease
• Chronic Constipation

If you have pain or discomfort when you eat, drink or have bowel movements, your primary-care provider can help determine if you need to see a GI specialist.

You may also be referred to a GI specialist for routine screenings such as a colonoscopy, depending on your age or family medical history.

Along with dedicated nurses and other staff, our physicians offer comprehensive endoscopic services, including the following screening and diagnostic procedures in our Endoscopy Center:

• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• PillCam (TM) Capsule Endoscopy

When should you consider a colonoscopy?

Colon screening is an important part of preventive health care. Primary risk factors for the development of colon cancer are age greater than 50 years, a family history of colon cancer, or a personal history of adenomatous polyps. Even if you don’t have a family history of colon cancer or a personal history of colon polyps, you should still be screened after age 50, and then at regular intervals in the future. Additionally, if you have any symptoms involving blood in the stool, diarrhea or constipation, you should undergo a diagnostic colonoscopy.