Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Glenn Eisen, MD, MPH What does outcomes research measure, and how does it differ from clinical trials? Is evidence-based medicine related to outcomes research? Host Dr. Jay Goldstein evaluates outcomes research with Dr. Glenn Eisen, professor in the department of medicine and the division of gastroenterology at Oregon Health and Science University. How will outcomes research impact clinical practices?
Dec 03, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Scott Cotler, MD Untreated hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. What methods are available for physicians to treat hepatitis B patients? Host Dr. Jay Goldstein reviews available treatments for reducing liver damage from hepatitis B with Dr. Scott Cotler, chief of hepatology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. How can the virus be suppressed while reducing the progression of liver disease?
Dec 03, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: William J. Sandborn, MD The current treatment paradigm for Crohn's disease is a pyramid approach, where patients are given the safest medications before pursuing more aggressive strategies. New evidence suggests that Crohn's disease should be treated with the most effective medications first, such as anti-TNF therapies. But is a top-down strategy safe enough for most patients? Dr. William Sandborn, professor of medicine and gastrointestinal research at Mayo Clinic C...
Nov 18, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Prateek Sharma, MD Esophageal cancer survival rates greatly decline when the cancer has reached its late stages, so detecting neoplasia in a Barrett's esophagus patient early is a crucial tool in cancer management. What are some emerging endoscopic techniques that can be used for a Barrett's esophageal patient? Dr. Prateek Sharma, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, discusses the be...
Nov 18, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS In its 1948 charter constitution, the World Health Organization defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being." Today, to measure this totality of well-being, we measure quality of life. Host Dr. Jay Goldstein discusses how quality of life measurements can be incorporated into everyday practice, with Dr. Brennan Spiegel, assistant professor of medicine in the division of digestive diseases at the David Geffe...
Nov 11, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Carla Ginsburg, MD, MPH Physicians continue to face payment cuts from Medicare, largely due to a flawed payment formula. What is on the horizon for 2009 and beyond? President-elect Obama has identified sweeping health care reform as a goal of his presidency. How could the new administration's health care overhaul affect physician reimbursement? Dr. Carla Ginsburg, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and private practice counselor on the governing board ...
Nov 11, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: David Peura, MD Helicobacter pylori, often known as H. pylori, was discovered in the 1980s and is found worldwide in the stomachs of billions of people. H. pylori can cause gastritis and ulcers, but often presents no symptoms or problems for years. How concerned should we be about the stomach bacterium? Host Dr. Jay Goldstein discusses with Dr. David Peura, professor of medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the extent to which H. pylori is stil...
Nov 11, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Richard Fedorak, MD Steroids used to be the standard treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. But now biologic and immunosuppresive therapies are often used. How can we increase the efficacy of these medications? What combinations work best? Dr. Richard Fedorak, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at the University of Alberta in Canada, discusses IBD treatments with host Dr. Jay Goldstein.
Nov 04, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Richard Fedorak, MD What are probiotics, and how do strains differ? How can they be used most effectively? Dr. Richard Fedorak, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at the University of Alberta in Canada, probes the potential of probiotics with host Dr. Jay Goldstein. Can they be used to replace medications for certain patients with gastrointestinal disorders? Find out what you should you tell your patients about probiotics....
Nov 04, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Michael Vaezi, MD, PhD Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common GI diagnosis. But many aspects of diagnosing and treating GERD and related syndromes vary considerably. Now, the AGA has issued new evidence-based guidelines on this widespread disorder. Some of the recommendations may surprise you. Dr. Michael Vaezi, co-author of the guidelines, discusses the best GERD management strategies with host Dr. Mark DeLegge. To view the AGA's GERD Guidelines,...
Oct 31, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Lawrence Kim, MD Endoscopy is extremely safe when performed by a qualified gastroenterologist. What role does accreditation play in ensuring patient safety? What's the difference between the associations that accredit ambulatory surgery centers? Host Dr. Mark DeLegge discusses what GIs need to know about accreditation with Dr. Lawrence Kim, a practicing gastroenterologist at South Denver Gastroenterology in Colorado.
Oct 07, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Mary Igo, MBA, RN The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) is a CMS-based program designed to help medical professionals measure performance outcomes in their practice. How does the PQRI define quality, and how can it provide more concrete measurements of quality? What do GI practices need to know when becoming involved in the PQRI? Mary Igo, MBA, CEO of Minnesota Gastroenterology, a GI practice based in St. Paul, and an expert in medical group management, ...
Oct 07, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Peter Cotton, MD The outcomes for endoscopy can vary greatly, depending on the training and technique of the endoscopist. Dr. Peter Cotton, professor of medicine at the Digestive Disease Center at the Medical University of South Carolina, discusses the risks of endoscopy, and quality-control measures, from the establishment of benchmarks to voluntary report cards to ensure quality outcomes. Dr. Mark DeLegge hosts.
Oct 07, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Thomas D. Wang, MD, PhD Microscopic imaging of the digestive tract moves beyond examination of tissue at subcellular levels, helping us identify molecular regions in which to probe for dysplasia. Dr. Thomas Wang, assistant professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan Medical School, details this 'biopsy inside the body' with host Dr. Mark DeLegge. How could this technology shape the future of GI practice? How does this differ from c...
Sep 10, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: William Chey, MD Guest: Nicholas Shaheen, MD, MPH Gastrointestinal (GI) disease is a major source of morbidity and mortality, yet physicians and patients often regard it as a basic nuisance. What contributes to this perception, and how can we change it? Host Dr. Mark DeLegge welcomes two chairmen of the upcoming AGA Clinical Congress, Dr. William Chey, professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, and Dr. Nicholas Shaheen, associate pr...
Sep 10, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Douglas Rex, MD Gastroenterology-directed propofol is controversial among many practitioners, even though evidence suggests it is very safe. What barriers are there to gastroenterologists administering propofol, without an anesthesiologist on site? Guest Dr. Douglas Rex, Chancellor's Professor and professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, and host Dr. Jay Goldstein examine the reasons for the slow growth of gastroenterologist-directed propofol...
Sep 10, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Ronald Fogel, MD It's the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, with more than 150,000 new cases projected in 2008, and the second leading cancer killer at more than 50,000 deaths this year alone, yet questions remain about screening strategies for colorectal cancer. Given that many health insurance plans don't cover screenings, how can we find other avenues to address this dilemma? Dr. Ronald Fogel, chair of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the AGA, pro...
Sep 09, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Pankaj Jay Pasricha, MD Is Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) the wave of the future, or just a wrinkle in the endoscopy movement? According to Dr. Pankaj Jay Pasricha, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the direction taken by NOTES may impact the core of gastroenterology. Dr. Pasricha shares his perspective, in the context of other emerging technologies that will sh...
Sep 09, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Sheila Crowe, MD Food allergies are becoming increasingly common. Such allergies are often not easy to diagnose, and can present differently in adults and children. What is the difference between a food allergy and a specific food intolerance? What causes food allergies, and are there effective treatments beyond avoidance? Host Dr. Jay Goldstein probes the truth about food allergies with Dr. Sheila Crowe, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology an...
Sep 09, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Lawrence Cohen, MD Propofol is used for deep sedation, and is often preferred by patients undergoing an endoscopy, since it's a short-acting agent. Can it be administered safely and effectively by trained gastroenterologists, or should an anesthesiologist be present to monitor the procedure? Dr. Larry Cohen, associate clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Mark DeLegge to discuss the benefits, costs and risks of using propofol during en...
Sep 03, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Lawrence Kosinski, MD We've heard quite a bit about electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Many of us have also counted the reasons why we're hesitant to make the switch. But are the benefits of EMRs too real and too many to pass up? Dr. Lawrence Kosinski, a member of the AGA's Practice Management and Economics Committee, counts simplified compliance, and valuable feedback from clinical performance improvement studies, as a few of the many advantages of EMRs in hi...
Sep 03, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: Stephen A. McClave, MD Physicians were previously obligated to provide nutrition and hydration to all patients during end of life care. Now, the courts have placed the responsibility with the patient. How can you best counsel patients and their families in making difficult decisions on feeding for the terminally ill? Dr. Stephen McClave, professor of medicine and director of clinical nutrition at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, takes a closer look a...
Aug 27, 20080
Host: Mark DeLegge, MD Guest: David Whitcomb, MD, PhD Because there are no early stage symptoms for pancreatic cancer, diagnosis is often delayed until after the cancer has metastasized. The search for a clue to the onset of this disease is a priority. Dr. David C. Whitcomb, professor of medicine, chief of gastroenterology and medical director of the Comprehensive Pancreas Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discusses the latest biomarkers for cancer on the pancreas with h...
Aug 27, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Phillip Toskes, MD A squeeze on federal funding is forcing researchers to explore different avenues for financing. What paths are most effective for finding support? Dr. Philip Toskes, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at the University of Florida College of Medicine, and former president of the AGA, speaks with host Dr. Jay Goldstein about NIH paylines, and the potential for small business innovation research gran...
Aug 07, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Stephen O'Keefe, MD There is expanding evidence that colonic health is based on diet and the microenvironment of the colon and its contents. Dr. Stephen O'Keefe, professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Jay Goldstein to discuss the microbiota of the colonic tract. How do these bacteria, many of which are linked to patients' diet and lifestyle, generate byproducts that lead to the he...
Jul 29, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Christopher Thompson, MD Advances in minimally invasive devices are fostering new endoscopic strategies in gastroenterology, including Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Christopher Thompson, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of developmental endoscopy at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, details the near-term impact of NOTES for liver biopsy, as well as long-range goals in bariatrics. Dr. Jay Gol...
Jul 15, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Peter Kaufman, MD Our healthcare system is methodically assimilating the age of electronic information, despite several barriers to widespread adoption for physicians. One key aspect of this trend centers on e-prescribing. In terms of safety, ease of use, and savings of time and cost, is e-prescribing a viable option? Host Dr. Jay Goldstein examines the issue and its effect on the GI practice with Dr. Peter Kaufman, a partner in the Metropolitan GI Group based in g...
Jul 15, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: John Kuemmerle, MD Recertification for internal medicine (and subspecialties, including gastroenterology) continues to evolve, with new requirements for certification designed to improve practice quality and management. Dr. John Kuemmerle, professor of medicine and physiology, and associate chair of GI research at the Medical College of Virginia, details these requirements with host Dr. Jay Goldstein. How are these requisites impacting clinical practice?...
Jul 14, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: James Leavitt, MD In these suffocating times of decreased reimbursement and intensified regulation, will electronic medical records (EMR) provide an opportunity to increase your service output and improve functionality? Dr. James Leavitt, assistant clinical professor of gastroenterology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, weighs the immediate impact of EMRs on your practice and offers tips for approaching the choice of EMR adoption with host Dr. J...
Jul 07, 20080
Host: Jay Goldstein, MD Guest: Kim Barrett, PhD Successfully navigating the tenure process in academic gastroenterology requires strategy, fortitude, and a firm understanding of its implications. What are the unwritten rules of the academic ladder? What can you do to make sure that you receive the promotion for which you strive? Host Dr. Jay Goldstein aims to remove the mystery behind tenure with Kim Barrett, PhD, professor of medicine and dean of graduate studies at the University of California...
Jun 20, 20080
