CentraCare Digestive Center provides specialized services in the area of gastroenterology. Gastroenterologists specialize in conditions relating to the stomach, liver, gallbladder, intestinal and digestive system.

Common conditions treated at the Digestive Center include:

• Crohn's disease
• colitis
• heartburn (GERD)
• constipation
• irritable bowel syndrome
• hepatitis (hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as other liver diseases.

Common endoscopic procedures used to treat a variety of conditions and problems of the digestive tract include:

• endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• colonoscopy
• upper endoscopy
• pH and motility testing.

CentraCare Digestive Center offers “camera in a pill” technology that allows physicians to see the entire 21 feet of the small intestine, usually not seen by endoscopy or colonoscopy. The M2A® Capsule Endoscope gives patients a non-invasive option for diagnosis of certain small intestine disorders.

Approximately 70 million Americans currently suffer from gastrointestinal troubles, including disorders such as obscure bleeding, Crohn's disease, malabsorption or celiac disease and intestinal tumors. This new capsule camera significantly improves the chances of accurate diagnosis for many previously undiagnosed small intestine disorders.

The capsule, which is taken with a sip of water, just like a vitamin, passes naturally through the digestive tract, recording video images that are transmitted to and then stored on a recorder belt worn throughout the day. Eight hours after swallowing the capsule, the patient returns the belt to the physician’s office. The physician then views the images and later reports his or her findings to the patient.

Outreach Services
CentraCare Digestive Center physicians work with primary care providers to bring outreach services to several area communities.

Outreach sites by location