Knoxville Digestive Disease Consultants
Welcome to Knoxville Digestive Disease Consultants
Our gastroenterology team is skilled in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting your digestive system.
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About Knoxville Digestive Disease Consultants
At Knoxville Digestive Disease Consultants, we specialize in the treatment of medical conditions that affect the digestive system, including the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and anus. With more than 60 years of combined medical experience, our expert healthcare team is ready to provide you with excellent care. Our office is conveniently located near Parkwest Medical Center. We’re proud to be a member of Covenant Medical Group, the physician practice group of Covenant Health.
I truly care about my patients’ concerns and will take the time to listen and work with them to develop a treatment plan specific to their unique needs. I pride myself in having a positive and joyful attitude with lots of patience. – Staci Bubp, FNP-C
Schedule an Appointment
Our team is ready to provide you with the right care when you need us. We’re accepting new patients. Please note, a referral is required from your doctor.
Conditions Treated
Anal Fissures
Anal fissures are cracks in the lining of your anus. Anal fissure is most often caused by passing very hard or watery stools. An anal fissure is very painful because exposed muscles become irritated from exposure to stool or air. This leads to intense burning pain, bleeding, or spasms after bowel movements.
Colitis
There are several types of colitis, which cause bowel inflammation. These include:
- Crohn’s disease
- Infectious colitis
- Ischemic colitis
- Radiation colitis
- Ulcerative colitis
Colitis can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and bowel urgency.
Colon Cancer and Polyps
Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Men and women are both at risk of developing colon cancer. Most cases of colon cancer begin as a small benign growth in the colon called a colon polyp. With routine colon cancer screening (colonoscopy), colon polyps and colon cancer can be found and treated. Cancer develops when these polyps grow and abnormal cells develop and start to invade surrounding tissue.
Most cases of colon cancer are preventable with routine screening and colon polyp removal.
Colon cancer risk factors include:
- Age greater than 45
- Family history of colon cancer
- Family history of colon polyps
For more information, please visit www.screen4coloncancer.org.
Constipation
Constipation makes it hard for you to have a bowel movement or causes infrequent (less than three times a week) or incomplete bowel movements. If left untreated, constipation can cause anal problems such as fissures or hemorrhoids.
Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis is a gastrointestinal condition in which small outpouchings (diverticula) form in the muscular wall of your large intestine and weakened areas of the bowel. Diverticulosis can sometimes develop into diverticulitis (infection or inflammation in the pouches).
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are dilated veins in your anal canal that are caused by chronic excess pressure from straining during a bowel movement, persistent diarrhea, or pregnancy.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (also called spastic colon, irritable colon, IBS, or nervous stomach) is a condition where your intestinal muscles contract more or less often than normal.
Symptoms of IBS include:
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habits
- Constipation and/or diarrhea
- Excess gas
Gastroenterology Services
- Colonoscopy: video examination of the colon
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): examines for abnormalities in the biliary system (liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, and pancreas). The procedure involves the use of an endoscope, which is guided by an X-ray
- Endoscopic ultrasound: uses a special endoscope with an ultrasound probe attached to it to view internal structures, detect growths, check for stones, and diagnose problems in the upper and lower digestive tract
- Esophageal pH (acid) testing: measurement of esophageal acid content
- Esophageal motility evaluation: for movement problems with swallowing
- Small bowel enteroscopy: examination of the small intestine
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the upper digestive system, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), blockages, and strictures
Patient Information
Visit Reminders
We ask that you please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Please bring the following items with you to your visit:
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Your current health insurance information
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Your current Photo ID
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Any medications you are currently taking in their original containers or in a list with dosages and times
Please note: In order to provide efficient care for all of our patients, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment if you do not arrive at least 30 minutes early.
Prescription Refills
It’s very important that you request your prescription refills during normal business hours before 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Prescriptions will not be refilled on weekends or holidays.
You can request a refill on the MyCovenantHealth Patient Portal or by calling your pharmacy.
Referrals & Precertification
Referrals
Insurers often require a physician referral prior to your visit to Knoxville Digestive Disease Consultants. As a courtesy to our patients, we will attempt to contact your primary care physician and request a referral. However, it is your responsibility to confirm that a referral has been obtained before you are seen by our providers.
Precertification
If a test or procedure is ordered by a Knoxville Digestive Disease provider, our staff will obtain a necessary precertification on your behalf. Precertification for any tests or procedures ordered by your own primary care physician is the responsibility of your primary care provider’s office.
Patient Survey
Our Patients Are Important
We want to be your first and best choice for healthcare, and we need your feedback.
You will receive a text message or email asking you to complete a confidential and secure survey about your visit. Your feedback will help us continue to deliver excellent care. Thank you!
Had a Great Experience? Leave Us a Google Review!
How to leave a review:
- Go to Google.com and search for Knoxville Digestive Disease Consultants
- When our page listing appears, go to the Review section and click “Write a review”
