At GIA, we are committed to providing the very best in gastrointestinal health care for our patients. That means board certified physicians, skilled nurses and caring support personnel. We have one of the most educated and experienced staffs and one of the most technologically advanced facilities available. Read the rest of this entry »
Cost and convenience important for quality health care
January 28th, 2010 by Dr. Charles O'Connor
Your Gallbladder Can Be a Pain
December 30th, 2009 by Dr. Steven J. Bindrim
The pear-shaped organ known as the gallbladder may only be three to four inches long, but it can be a large pain if it is not working properly, causing damage to pancreas, liver or even resulting in death if left untreated.
The gallbladder is a storage tank for bile produced in the liver until the body needs it for digestion. Problems occur when the bile hardens into little pebble-like substances called gallstones and block the release of bile into the digestive system. Gallstones can be as big as a golf ball or as small as a grain of sand. Many people with gallstones don’t even know they are there. Read the rest of this entry »
Getting to the Right Source
December 16th, 2009 by Dr. Bergein Overholt
Are you on Facebook? We are!
We have also posted some news highlights on YouTube.
I am finding new media is opening up incredible ways to provide information that can help keep people well – and for others to share that information with people who need it. Read the rest of this entry »
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be more than just an irritation
November 24th, 2009 by Dr. Maria B. Newman
Over 55 million Americans suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It is extremely common and often ignored.
Symptoms of IBS include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramps and bloating. For some people, symptoms are mild; many don’t even seek treatment for the condition. For others it can be very distressing and make it difficult to carry on normal daily activities. Read the rest of this entry »
GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day Huge Success
October 22nd, 2009 by Dr. Bergein Overholt
GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day on Oct. 17 was a huge success.
A total of 48 persons referred by The InterFaith Health Clinic and The Free Medical Clinic of America received free screenings from the physicians and staff of Gastrointestinal Associates and The Endoscopy Center.
I believe I speak for my fellow physicians and the staff when I say that we feel privileged to have helped make the day a success. It was gratifying to all of us to receive the hugs of support and thanks from the patients.
Colonoscopies for the Worthy, and a Message for All
October 12th, 2009 by Dr. Bergein Overholt
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the physicians and staff of Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) will gather at The Endoscopy Center for a very important mission.
With colon cancer ranked as the second-deadliest cancer, GIA is making free colonoscopy exams available to a group of people in the Knoxville area who are less able to afford the vital screening procedure.
Is Colon Cleansing Helpful or Balderdash?
October 1st, 2009 by Dr. Bergein Overholt
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal brought to the forefront a long-standing debate between practitioners of conventional and alternative medicine over the value of colon cleansing.
GIA Confronts Diagnosis Issues With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
September 17th, 2009 by Dr. Bergein OverholtThe increasing prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) has presented gastroenterologists with this decade’s major challenge for diagnosis.
EE is sometimes confused with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) because the symptoms of the diseases are so similar.
EE has been detected in all ages and on every continent, except Africa. Our team here at Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) is familiar with the latest research on EE and has experience treating the disease.
GIA Patients Benefit from Our Participation in Research
August 26th, 2009 by Dr. Bergein Overholt
Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) is very involved in research to determine the effectiveness of the treatments of gastrointestinal diseases. This involvement is a direct benefit to the patients of GIA.
Recently, GIA and I participated in a study of one particular treatment of Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that can lead to cancer of that organ. The study was published in May of this year in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (PDF, 2.1 mb), and GIA was one of 19 centers across the United States participating in the research. The study showed that radiofrequency ablation (thermal destruction) of abnormal cells eradicated those cells without damaging the esophagus.
Your Colonoscopy
August 24th, 2009 by Dr. Bergein Overholt
Your primary care physician refers you to Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) for a colonoscopy. If it is your first exam, you may be a little apprehensive. What should you expect?
You will be given detailed instructions before your visit, and we will answer any questions you have. You may also obtain additional information from our brochure on colonoscopy and elsewhere on this Web site, but let me touch on a few highlights here.