State-of-the-art gastrointestinal care

Advocate Health Care is leading the way in addressing common and complex conditions of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) and the accessory digestive organs, such as the liver, pancreas and gallbladder. With our full range of advanced treatment options and leading digestive health experts across Chicagoland, you can trust us to take care of your disorder and get you back to your life as quickly as possible.

What is the GI tract?

The GI tract (also known as the digestive tract) is a series of hollow muscular structures that digest food and transport it through the body. In order from beginning to end, they are:

• Pharynx
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large intestine (colon)
• Rectum
• Anus

What sets us apart

• Multidisciplinary care: Comprehensive gastrointestinal system treatment provided by highly trained gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiologists and oncologists, ranked as "High Performing" by U.S. News & World Report.
  
• Innovative approach: Most advanced GI system screening and treatment options, from colonoscopy testing to minimally invasive surgery.
  
• Personalized attention: Individualized care plans to meet your specific needs and goals.

To schedule an appointment, call 800-3-ADVOCATE or use our online search tool to find a gastroenterologist near you.

Gastrointestinal diseases & conditions treated

Digestive tract disorders can be hard to diagnose because they often have similar symptoms, including pain, bloating, gassiness, diarrhea or constipation. Combining leading-edge technology with expertise, our specialists can diagnose, treat and help you manage a full range of digestive tract diseases and conditions, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Celiac disease
• Cholestatic liver disease
• Constipation
• Crohn's disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) / heartburn
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcerative colitis

See a complete list of the digestive tract conditions we treat.

Gastrointestinal system disorder diagnosis

Gastroenterologists often start with blood tests and stool (poop) tests to check for infections and levels of blood cells that may indicate different GI system disorders. They may order gastrointestinal tract imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs. Beyond these tools, we provide a number of gastrointestinal tract treatments and tests. The ones your GI doctor chooses will depend on your symptoms, health history and diagnosis.

Colonoscopies for early cancer detection

For digestive tract health, adults over age 45 should receive a colonoscopy every 10 years, up to age 75. The screening can detect colon and rectal cancer early, when it's easier to treat, improving your chances of a full recovery.

Screening simplified: We offer direct access to screening colonoscopies to qualified patients, saving you time and money. We also offer Saturday screenings at many locations. Other GI tract conditions such as colitis, diverticulosis, Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease may also be discovered during a colonoscopy.

People talk about their colonoscopies

Patient Cindy described her colonoscopy as "go to sleep, wake up and it's done."

Gastrointestinal system disorder treatments

Once your GI doctor has established a diagnosis, you’ll receive care tailored to your GI system health needs and goals for treatment.

Some of our gastrointestinal system disease treatment methods include:

• Interventional endoscopy
• Advanced medical and surgical procedures
  
• Minimally invasive and robotic surgery
  
• Interventional radiology
  
• LINX acid reflux surgery
  
• Nutrition services