Gastroenterology
Greater Cleveland Digestive Health
Southwest General provides a wide range of services to diagnose and treat diseases of the digestive tract and liver. We offer an experienced team of physicians, advanced treatment techniques and the latest technology to restore digestive health and get patients back to normal activities as soon as possible.
Open Access Colonoscopy Screening Program
Southwest General offers an Open Access Colonoscopy Screening Program, which makes scheduling of screening colonoscopies easier. The program provides the option for eligible patients to skip the pre-colonoscopy doctor’s visit and directly schedule the procedure. To determine eligibility, patients are required to fill out an online application that contains a medical history questionnaire before being scheduled.
Our team will review applications daily and call within two business days to let patients know if they qualify for the Open Access Colonoscopy Screening Program. If you qualify, you will be scheduled with our next available physician for your screening colonoscopy.
Healthy individuals aged 50 or older who need a routine screening colonoscopy are excellent candidates for the Open Access Colonoscopy Screening Program. Those experiencing digestive health issues will be asked to schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist prior to scheduling a colonoscopy and are not candidates for the Open Access Colonoscopy Screening Program.
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Minimally Invasive Endoscopy to Diagnose and Treat Digestive Issues
Endoscopy is an important diagnostic tool available to treat and, in many cases, cure diseases of the digestive tract. During endoscopy, physicians use an endoscope—a small, flexible tube with a camera—to see inside the esophagus, stomach and the upper part of the small intestine in real-time for diagnostic and treatment purposes. The procedure is used to:
- Collect tissue samples to test for diseases and conditions such as anemia, vomiting, abdominal pain, swallowing difficulty, diarrhea, or cancer.
- Diagnose digestive diseases and illnesses to find out what’s causing your symptoms.
- Treat specific ailments of the digestive system using special instruments to correct bleeding or difficulty swallowing, remove polyps or dislodge obstructions in the upper digestive tract
In many cases, endoscopy prevents the need for surgery, meaning patients benefit from reduced risk of infection and do not need to worry about a prolonged surgery recovery period. Highly skilled physicians on our Medical Staff routinely and successfully perform this minimally invasive procedure on patients of all ages in the Greater Cleveland area.
New Technology for Non-Surgical Gallstone Removal and Cancer Diagnosis
Physicians at Southwest General perform an advanced endoscopic procedure called ECRP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) to break up small gallstones without surgery. It is also used to diagnose certain cancers through the collection of tissue samples previously unattainable via conventional endoscopy.
The benefits of ERCP for patients:
Where gallstones are concerned, ERCP has significant benefits, including:
- Patients may need only one procedure instead of several, reducing inconvenience and discomfort.
- There is a high probability that patients will receive immediate relief when the gallstones are removed.
- Where cancer is a concern, the procedure affords a non-surgical approach to obtaining specimens.
To learn more about gastroenterology and endoscopy services at Southwest General call 440-816-5345.
