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Gastroenterology
Rely on the experts at Essentia Health to help you manage the symptoms and discomfort associated with digestive health disorders. Our experienced gastroenterologists treat everything from ulcers and acid reflux to liver conditions and Crohn’s disease. We will work with you to diagnosis your condition and develop a personalized treatment plan to improve your health and wellbeing.
Make an Appointment
To schedule an appointment,
call 844-663-1068 from 8 am to 5 pm,
Monday to Friday. You'll need a
physician's referral for
gastroenterology services in Central Minnesota.
What's a Gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist is an internal medicine doctor with specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of the liver and digestive system, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract includes the stomach, intestines, esophagus, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, and rectum.
When to See a Specialist
Talk to your primary care doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Stomach pain
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Trouble swallowing
Your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist for more specialized care and diagnostic testing.
Conditions Treated
See the full list of conditions we treat, and select a condition to find providers and locations near you.
- Abdominal disorders
- Abdominal pain
- Anal fissures
- Anemia
- Autoimmune diseases
- Billary disorders
- Celiac disease
- Cirrhosis
- Constipation
- Crohn's disease
- Diarrhea
- Digestive problems
- Dysphagia
- Esophageal diseases
- Esophagitis
- GERD
- Gallstones
- Gastritis
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis C
- Hernia
- Hernia (hiatal)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal obstruction
- Liver disease
- Nutritional deficiency
- Pancreatitis
- Peritonitis
- Pyloric stenosis
- Rectal prolapse
- Short bowel syndrome
- Stomach diseases
- Stomach ulcers
- Swallowing disorders
- Ulcer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Vomiting
Your First Visit
During your first visit, you and your gastroenterologist will discuss your symptoms, lifestyle, diet, and personal and family medical history. Expect a head-to-toe exam and, if necessary, follow-up testing.
After a diagnosis is made, your doctor will talk with you about treatment options.
TeleVideo Exam Follow-Up Visits
If your gastroenterologists office isn't near your hometown, ask if your follow-up visits can take place by TeleVideo Exam. You'll visit your local Essentia clinic and use live video and audio technology to talk to your gastroenterologist. This can save you time and reduce your travel expenses.
Diagnostic Tests & Treatments
The experienced digestive disease specialists at Essentia Health offer comprehensive GI care including the following diagnostic tests and treatments:
- Bravo pH monitoring – Attaches a tiny capsule to your esophagus (swallowing tube) for two days to measure acid and check for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Breath testing – Measures certain gases in your breath to check for lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, or digestive diseases
- Colon cancer screenings – Look for signs of colon cancer before you notice symptoms
- Endoscopy – Looks inside your digestive tract so doctors can test or treat it
- Esophageal stenting – Places a tube in your esophagus to keep it open and help you swallow better
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Examines the rectum and lower colon
- Inflammatory bowel disease medicine – Eases belly pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms in your colon
- Liver care – Includes new medicines for hepatitis C, as well as care before and after liver transplant
- Manometry – Slides a thin tube into your esophagus or rectum to check muscle strength
Current Clinical Research Studies
Talk to your doctor to see if you may be eligible to participate in a research study through the Essentia Institute of Rural Health. By participating in a clinical study, you may have access to treatments, medications and medical devices that are not widely available.
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Colorectal Cancer Screenings
By age 50, get your first colonoscopy or an easy, take-home fecal immunochemical test to screen for colorectal cancer at Essentia Health.
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Colorectal Surgery
If your digestive problems won’t go away, ask about colorectal surgery at Essentia Health in Minnesota, Northwest Wisconsin, and Eastern North Dakota.
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Endoscopy
Visit Essentia Health for expert care during an upper endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, or ERCP in Minnesota, northwest Wisconsin, and western North Dakota.