Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1094308
53 GASTROENTEROLOGY Gastro Health acquiring Gastroenterology Specialists, continuing Florida expansion efforts — 4 insights By Eric Oliver M iami-based Gastro Health entered into an agreement to acquire Longwood, Fla.-based Giles Gastroenterology Center, doing business as Gastroenterology Specialists. What you should know: 1. The acquisition is Gastro Health's second in the central Florida market. Gastro Health is in the process of expanding across the state. The practice has an extensive presence in southern Florida. 2. Gastroenterology Specialists was established in 1986. Andrew Giles, MD, Anthony Coppola, MD, and Anthony Lin, MD, will all join Gastro Health. 3. Dr. Giles said, "We are pleased and excited to join Gastro Health. The combination of our shared values having quality per- sonnel and compassionate care, along with Gastro Health's robust infrastructure, allows us to expand our capability and to improve the health of our patients." 4. Gastro Health CEO Joseph Garcia lauded Gastroenterology Specialists, saying the acquisition, "enhances our ability to deliver quality care to the Orlando market." n AGA: 3 things to know about AI in gastroenterology By Rachel Popa A rtificial intelligence can help gastroen- terologists identify colorectal polyps, bleeding and angioectasias accurate- ly, according to Sushovan Guha, MD, PhD, of the University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix. Dr. Guha shared insights on AI's impact on gastroenterology with the American Gastroen- terological Association: 1. Clinicians are slow to adopt new tools, creat- ing a potential barrier to widespread adoption of AI technology. 2. Regulatory processes move at a slower pace than technological change. However, the FDA is ramping up its regulation process to accommo- date AI technology advancements. 3. The AGA Center for GI Innovation and Tech- nology is actively researching how AI could improve patient outcomes and reduce health- care costs. n Burnout, depression high in gastroenterology — 8 statistics By Eric Oliver B urnout and unhappiness are preva- lent throughout gastroenterology, according to Medscape's Gastroen- terologist Lifestyle, Happiness & Burnout Report 2019. Medscape surveyed 15,069 physicians across more than 29 specialties for the report. Respondents were required to practice in the U.S. Eight statistics: 1. Twenty-two percent of gastroenter- ologists said they were happy at work, the fourth lowest of any specialty. 2. About half of gastroenterologists, 51 per- cent, said they are happy outside of work. 3. Forty-five percent of gastroenterologists said they were burned out, 15 percent said they had casual depression and 2 percent said they were chronically depressed. 4. To cope with burnout, 51 percent of gas- troenterologists talked with family/friends, 50 percent exercised and 36 percent isolated themselves from others. 5. e top three leading causes of burnout were too many bureaucratic tasks (72 per- cent), spending too much time at work (34 percent) and the increased computerization of practices (33 percent). 6. Gastroenterologists said depression most likely manifested itself in their practice by causing them to be easily exasperated by patients (44 percent). Forty-two percent of gastroenterologists said depression didn't impact their practice. 7. Seventy-one percent of gastroenterolo- gists said they previously haven't sought help for burnout or depression nor would they seek help in the future. 8. Twenty-nine percent of gastroenterolo- gists said they'd possibly participate in a workplace program to reduce stress or burnout. n