Gastroenterological care

Lower GI conditions:

• Anal itching (pruritis ani)
• Anal cancer
• Colitis
• Colon decompression
• Colon cancer
• Constipation
• Crohn's disease
• Diverticulitis
• Duodenitis
• Fistula
• Fecal (bowel) incontinence
• Gastritis
• Gallstones
• Gastroparesis
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pelvic floor organ prolapse
• Pilonidal disease
• Rectal bleeding
• Rectal cancer
• Removal of a foreign body
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Tumors of the liver, gastrointestinal tract and pancreas
• Twisted or blocked colon (colonic volvulus)
• Ulcers

Upper GI conditions:

• Achalasia
• Barret's esophagus
• Celiac disease
• Esophageal motility disorders
• Esophageal cancer
• Esophageal varices
• Esophagitis
• Food impaction
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heartburn
• Hiatal hernia
• Mallory-Weiss tears
• Removal of a foreign body
• Weight management

Our services and treatments include:

• Prevention measures
• Comprehensive evaluations
• Direct access screening colonoscopies
• Diagnostic and interventional endoscopy
• Advanced medical and surgical procedures
• Minimally invasive and robotic surgery
• Interventional radiology

Arrival & registration

• Please arrive for registration one hour prior to your appointment.
• Check in at the Digestive Health Center reception area on the first floor of the Center for Advanced Care.
• You’ll be asked to complete a few registration forms and provide photo identification, such as a driver’s license or state ID, as well as insurance information.
• Complimentary valet parking is available for all patients at the Center for Advanced Care entrance.
• Self-parking is also available at the hospital's Wellington parking garage, located on Wellington Avenue east of the CTA tracks. You can have your parking ticket validated at the Digestive
• Health Center.

Be sure you have an escort

Please be aware that, following your procedure, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home, take a cab or take public transportation unescorted. To ensure your safety, you must have a responsible adult to accompany you home following your procedure. If your escort does not arrive with you, a member of our staff will call to verify your escort home. We take your safety seriously and, if you do not have an appropriate escort, we will make arrangements for transportation or reschedule your appointment.

Your friend or relative is welcome to wait during your procedure in your private patient room or in our comfortable waiting area. Visitors are also encouraged to check out the ecos cafe for a meal, light snack or beverage while they wait.

Preparing for your procedure

Regardless of your procedure, take the following steps to prepare:

• Arrange for someone to drive you home, and keep your schedule free for the rest of the day to recuperate from your procedure and the sedation. After the procedure, do not attempt to drive, take a cab or use public transportation by yourself.
• Inform your physician of any restrictive medical conditions or allergies.
• Talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking. Bring a list of current medications, vitamin supplements and herbs with you to your procedure.
• Please leave jewelry and valuables at home.
  
  

What to expect

Before your procedure:

• Plan to arrive one hour prior to your scheduled appointment and check in at patient registration, located near the main hospital entrance. Have your photo ID, insurance cards and any physician referrals ready.
• Your physician will explain the procedure and have you sign an informed consent form.
• You will be asked to change into a hospital gown and put your personal items in a patient belonging bag.

After your procedure:

• After your physician has determined it is safe for you to be discharged, you may prepare to go home.
• You will receive instructions and important contact information before you are sent home. You will not be able to drive, operate machinery or return to work until the next day. We’ll ask that you go home, relax and continue to recover. Also, please be aware that you should not drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours following your procedure.