27,873
Gastroenterologists
100%
Accepting patients
84%
Most common: MD
FindClarity lists 27,873 gastroenterologists nationwide. 100% are currently accepting new patients. The most common credential is MD (84%). 76% accept Medicare.
Gastroenterologists (GI doctors) specialize in the digestive system: esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. They diagnose and treat conditions ranging from acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome to inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, and GI cancers.
Gastroenterologists complete a three-year internal medicine residency followed by a two- to three-year GI fellowship. Their training emphasizes both medical management and endoscopic procedures, particularly colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. Some pursue additional fellowships in hepatology (liver disease), advanced endoscopy, or motility disorders.
Colonoscopies are the procedure most people associate with gastroenterologists. Starting at age 45 (per current USPSTF guidelines), regular screening colonoscopies are one of the most effective cancer prevention tools available, since they can detect and remove precancerous polyps before they become colon cancer.
See a gastroenterologist for persistent heartburn or acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, chronic abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, chronic diarrhea or constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis), abnormal liver tests, hepatitis, celiac disease, or when it is time for a screening colonoscopy. Your PCP may refer you after initial evaluation.
The first visit includes a thorough review of your symptoms, diet, bowel habits, and medical history. The GI doctor may order blood work, stool tests, or imaging. If a colonoscopy or endoscopy is needed, they will schedule it separately and explain the preparation. Procedures are done under sedation and typically take 20 to 45 minutes. You will need someone to drive you home afterward.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Screening colonoscopy: $0 (preventive) · Diagnostic colonoscopy: $1,500-4,000 · Upper endoscopy: $1,000-3,000
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening starting at age 45 for people at average risk. If you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, screening may start earlier (often at age 40 or ten years before the age your relative was diagnosed). Talk to your doctor about the right timing for you.
No. You are sedated during the procedure and will not feel pain. Most patients sleep through it entirely and remember nothing afterward. The preparation (bowel cleanse the day before) is the least pleasant part, but newer prep solutions are easier to tolerate than they used to be. The procedure itself takes 20 to 45 minutes.
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a functional disorder. The gut looks normal on testing but does not work properly, causing cramping, bloating, and altered bowel habits. IBD (inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis) involves visible inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. IBD is more serious and requires different treatment, including immune-suppressing medications.
Yes. GI doctors are the specialists best equipped to manage acid reflux (GERD). They can perform an upper endoscopy to check for damage to the esophagus, adjust medications, and evaluate whether lifestyle changes alone are sufficient. For severe or treatment-resistant reflux, they can discuss surgical options like fundoplication.
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Screening colonoscopies are covered at 100% as preventive care under the ACA with no copay (for average-risk patients starting at age 45). If polyps are found and removed during a screening, the procedure should still be billed as preventive. Diagnostic colonoscopies (ordered for symptoms) are subject to your deductible and copay. Verify the endoscopy center is in-network separately from the doctor.