Gastroenterology

Full Range of Services and Minimally Invasive Techniques

To protect our patients and staff, all people entering a BCH care facility will be required to wear a mask (exceptions include children <2 yrs. old or medical reasons such as trouble breathing, unconsciousness, or someone unable to remove a mask without assistance).
*Cloth masks, bandanas, neck gaiters, and masks with valves are not acceptable.

Gastroenterologists specialize in preventing, diagnosing and treating digestive tract and liver disorders, including conditions involving the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon.

Boulder Community Health offers the latest in endoscopic equipment and minimally invasive techniques. We partner with Gastroenterology of the Rockies to offer our community convenient endoscopy options in Boulder, Lafayette and Longmont.

More complicated cases are performed at BCH's Foothills Hospital.

It's important for those 45 years of age or older (50 years of age for some insurances), and those otherwise at risk, to get screened early for colon cancer. Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. However, it is also preventable, treatable and beatable through screening.

During endoscopic screening procedures, doctors insert tubes through the mouth or rectum to examine and treat problems of the digestive tract, with minimized impact on surrounding tissues.

Symptoms

Physicians see patients with a wide variety of problems and symptoms including, but not limited to:

• Acid reflux
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Stuck food
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) and diseases of the liver pancreas, and intestines

There are several screening options when it comes to preventing colon cancer. Please discuss which one is right for you with your BCH provider.

To make an appointment with a BCH primary care provider to talk about getting screened for colon cancer, please call BCH Patient Scheduling at 303-415-4015. Or request an appointment with GI of the Rockies here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Do I Need a Colonoscopy?

Your doctor will suggest how often you need this exam, depending on your personal risk for colon cancer. Doctors now recommend starting at age 45 (50 years of age for some insurances) and repeating it every 10 years. If you have an increased risk for colon cancer, or have had previous treatment for colon polyps or colorectal cancer, the test may be done at a younger age and more often. Find out from your doctor whether you should start before age 45.

Do I Really Need a Colonoscopy?

The need for a colonoscopy is real. In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed among men and women. CRC largely can be prevented by the detection and removal of polyps, and survival is significantly better when CRC is diagnosed while still localized.

Will I Be Unconscious During the Procedure?

Before the exam, your doctor administers pain relievers and a sedative through an intravenous (IV) line. The sedative brings you into a state called "conscious sedation." This is not like general anesthesia, where you’re unconscious, but a sleepy, relaxed dreamlike state.

Does a Colonoscopy Hurt?

The doctor gives you pain relievers and a sedative to bring you into a state called "conscious sedation." This is not like general anesthesia, where you’re unconscious, but a pleasant, sleepy, relaxed dreamlike state.