On-demand virtual visits are telehealth appointments available on a first-come, first-serve basis. These visits will provide access to experienced, specialty-trained nurse practitioners and physicians assistants under the supervision of board-certified gastroenterologists who can order labs, imaging, procedures and prescriptions. On-demand visits are available for commercially insured patients Monday through Thursday 8 am to 4 pm and Friday 8 am to noon.

Unfortunately, these visits are not available for Medicare, Medicaid, or North Shore HMO patients, however, these patients can still be seen by other providers at the practice and can call 224.407.4400 for an appointment.

Come to our brand new endoscopy suite for an exceptional quality procedural experience in an attractive setting.

• COLONOSCOPY
• ENDOSCOPY (EGD)
• FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY
• CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY

COMMON CONDITIONS

These are some of the most common GI conditions that we have the expertise to care for.

• GERD
• Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
• Barrett’s esophagus
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Celiac disease
• H. pylori
• Gastritis and ulcers
• Functional dyspepsia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissure
• Anemia
• Fatty liver
• Abnormal liver tests
• Weight management

COMMON SYMPTOMS

These are some of the common symptoms people share with us. We help to clarify the diagnosis and offer effective treatment options.

• Heartburn
• Difficulty swallowing
• Belching
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Change in bowel habits
• Blood in your stool
• Weight loss
• Weight gain

About Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is the fastest-growing segment of chronic liver disease. It is estimated that more than one in three adults suffer from Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease aka. MASLD (previously non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD). With early detection and intervention fatty liver disease can be halted or even reversed.

Fatty liver disease is caused by an excess amount of fat in the liver. Usually a small amount of excess fat isn’t problematic, but for about 20% of those with fatty liver, the condition gradually progresses and leads to inflammation in the liver. Inflammation in the liver can cause scar tissue build up (a process called fibrosis). When scar tissue extensively replaces healthy tissue and impairs liver function, cirrhosis occurs which dramatically increases the chances of liver failure or cancer.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

Fatty liver disease often has no noticeable symptoms, some subtle signs include fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain. If you have type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, or other metabolic diseases, you may be at higher risk for fatty liver disease.

The Need for Early Detection

With early detection and intervention, fatty liver disease can be halted or even reversed. Fatty liver disease is considered a silent epidemic because typically there are no noticeable symptoms, which can lead to underdiagnosis. Making healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a nutritious diet and exercising, can greatly improve your liver health. Progress continues to be made in developing therapeutics to treat fatty liver disease. 

Liver Assessments with VELACUR

Velacur, (similar to Fibroscan, but with new advanced features) is an ultrasound imaging tool that physicians use to measure liver stiffness, attenuation and VDFF which are the leading indicators of fatty liver disease. The Velacur procedure is painless, non-invasive and can be performed in about 30-45 minutes. 

Our multidisciplinary team works closely together to provide expert, patient-centered care for inflammatory bowel disease:

• Highly regarded gastroenterologists with extensive experience in managing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • All of our physicians offer routine colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, upper endoscopy, and capsule endoscopy studies.
• Knowledgeable nurse practitioners who work closely with the physicians, provide comprehensive, evidence-based gastrointestinal care, and offer appointments for urgent needs.
• Thorough evaluations including:
  • One-hour initial consultations
  • Comprehensive laboratory testing all available at our offices, including bloodwork and stool testing
  • Second opinions of gastrointestinal diagnostic studies performed at other locations
  • Several facilities conveniently located near our offices for advanced diagnostics including CT enterography, MR enterography, x-rays, and ultrasounds with access to records for quick turnaround of results
• Specialized Registered Dietitians who offer consults for optimization of diet, correction of nutritional deficiencies, identification of dietary triggers, and management of coexisting IBS symptoms.
• Designated IBD patient care coordinator to be your point of contact for medication refills, prompt communication of messages and results, and coordination of health maintenance items such as bone density scans, lab monitoring, and vaccinations.
• In-office infusion suites specially designed for comfort, convenience, and close clinical monitoring.
• Behavioral health specialists to help with various aspects of mental health care in patients with IBD, including anxiety, depression, pain, and coping.
• Close collaboration with other specialties such as colorectal surgery and maternal-fetal medicine.
• Efficient communication with other medical specialties that may be involved in IBD care including rheumatology, dermatology, radiology, and gynecology.

Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health is always involved in various clinical trails to help further the care and research of gastrointestinal diseases. Here are the studies that are currently ongoing:

• PROVE study: developing a blood-based screening tool to detect colorectal cancer.
• EDESIA study: evaluating the effectiveness of Dupixant for patients with Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trail or have questions regarding the trials, please reach out to our research team at 224-236-3520 or email [email protected]

Our infusion suites are a safe, private, and quiet environment to receive your medication infusions. Amenities include:

• A qualified clinical infusion nurse who will perform all clinical monitoring during the infusion to ensure safety, continuity of care, and positive outcomes.
• Private rooms with windows and WiFi.
• Reclining chairs with pillows.
• Snacks and beverages.
• Convenient and close parking.
• Often a less costly alternative to receiving infusions at other locations.
• Close collaboration between your gastroenterologist and infusion nurse throughout the prescribed infusion treatment.

For questions or scheduling, please contact: [email protected]

Our knowledgeable registered dietitians will help to create an individualized plan that works for your lifestyle.

• Thorough evaluation
  • Assessment of current nutritional status and nutrient deficiencies
  • Identification of food sensitivities
  • Realistic meal tracking plan
  • Individualized nutritional goals
• Dietary treatments for GI conditions
  • Acid reflux (GERD)
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis
  • Celiac disease
  • Non-celiac wheat sensitivity
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Nutritional strategies for maintaining wellness
  • Creating a healthy gut microbiome
  • Recommendations on supplements
  • Reducing risk of colon polyps and colon cancer
  • Reducing the risk of diverticulitis
  • Strategies for optimized athletic performance
• Weight management
• Personalized recipes and meal plans
• Strategies for grocery shopping and eating out
• Support and encouragement between office visits

Our behavioral health experts are comprised of a licensed medical family therapist and a clinical psychologist. They can work with you in a number of different ways with scientifically supportive interventions.

They offer the following services, depending on your specific needs and goals:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Insight Oriented Therapy
• Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
• Relaxation Strategies
• Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, Stressors & Trauma
• Coping Strategies for Dealing with a Chronic Illness or Suffering from Chronic Pain

The Weight Management program has additional information regarding psychological assessment, psychological support, and counseling.

Strong evidence supports the idea that a combined intervention is far more effective for weight loss and maintenance than any single approach alone. Let our team of experts collaborate to help you achieve your goals.

Carrying excess weight is of particular relevance to gastroenterology because of the clearly documented impact extra weight has on numerous GI conditions, such as acid reflux, fatty liver, and the increased risk for colon polyps and colon cancer.

Our approach encourages:

• Nutritional counseling
• Psychological Assessment and Psychological Support
• Improving sleep quality
• Promoting physical activity
• Optimizing the gut microbiome
• Weight loss medications (when appropriate)
• Referrals for endoscopic or surgical weight loss interventions (when appropriate)

We are closely following the latest discoveries about the role that the gut microbiome has in metabolism, as well as the role of gut hormones in appetite and weight regulation. We are eager to implement the next generation of therapies that emerge from these studies.

Prehabilitation is the process of optimizing physical function prior to surgery to help improve the recovery process.

• Prehabilitation training includes a combination of:
• Nutrition
• Mental preparation
• Exercise and strength training

Let our team help you prepare for your upcoming surgery.

Patients often report extensive diagnostic evaluation followed by a sense of abandonment after the testing is over. We aim for better follow through and meaningful results.

• Emphasis on medical education to empower your ability to impact your own gastrointestinal health
• Frequent appointments to assess progress and tailor your treatment plan
• Coordination of the comprehensive approach to challenging conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and weight management
• Health maintenance – we not only want to help get you well, but also keep you that way.
• Disease prevention – we will guide you on the latest research that can help try to prevent disease and enhance wellness.