Frequently Asked Questions

In January of 2022, Washington Gastroenterology joined GI Alliance. This partnership ensures that we, as physicians, can continue our focused efforts of providing the highest quality of personalized care to our patients. GI Alliance is the leading, Patient-Focused, Physician-Led Gastroenterology Practice serving patients throughout the United States. Learn more about GI Alliance here.

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Your GI tract contains significant gastric organs, like your small intestine, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, colon, and liver.

You can pay your bill from Washington Gastroenterology online here.

You can access your records and communicate directly with your physician’s office online, 24/7 via the Washington Gastroenterology Patient Portal.

Washington Gastroenterology enables patients to “Request” an appointment online via the “request an appointment” form on our provider or location pages. Once your request is received, a member of our scheduling team will contact you personally to coordinate your appointment.

We accept most insurances. Visit our Insurance page or call one of our offices to confirm we accept yours.

A colon cancer screening is the process of looking for polyps and cancerous growths on the inner wall of the colon and rectum when no gastrointestinal symptoms of disease are present. 

Colon cancer has one of the highest death counts among patients with cancer in the US. It is estimated that over 52,000 deaths from this disease will occur in the United States each year.

Yes, a colonoscopy may detect polyps (small growths on the lining of the colon). Your gastroenterologist will remove these polyps during the colonoscopy. Removal of polyps will result in a major reduction in the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer in the future.

A colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure which allows the physician to examine the lining of the colon using a long flexible tube with a camera on the end of it.

Your gastroenterologist and their staff will provide you with specific instructions for your procedure. It is very important that you follow the instructions given to you by the gastroenterologists and not the instructions that come with your prep kit. If you lose your instructions, you can find them here or contact your gastroenterologist.

To view the Washington Gastroenterology prep instructions, click here.

No! A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure.

A colonoscopy is generally safe. One possible complication is perforation, or tear, through the bowel wall that could require surgery. Bleeding might occur, but it’s usually minor and can be controlled through the colonoscope. Some patients may have complications or a reaction to the sedatives. Contact your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, or rectal bleeding.

Your gastroenterologists will discuss the initial procedure findings after the procedure before you leave. Tests may be ordered, based on the procedure findings. If several tests are ordered, we like to review all results together to formulate a complete plan of care. Pathology results, typically, are returned in less than a week.

You will be monitored until most of the sedatives have worn off and your doctor has explained your exam results. You might have cramping or bloating because of the air introduced into the colon during the examination. You may still be groggy from the sedative, so you will need someone there with you and to drive you home. You should be able to eat normally, but your gastroenterologist may restrict your diet and activities for a short period of time. You should not return to work, drive or operate heavy equipment for the remainder of the day.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are two distinct gastrointestinal disorders, though the differences between the two can be confusing. While they have some similar symptoms, IBS and IBD are not the same conditions, and they require very different treatments. It is essential to get an accurate diagnosis so that you can properly manage your condition.

An on-demand virtual visit is a service that allows you to connect with a healthcare provider remotely using video conferencing technology, without scheduling an appointment, providing nearly immediate access to medical care without having to leave home.

No need to schedule, with on-demand visits you can connect with a Gastroenterology provider without a prior appointment! You can start an on-demand virtual visit through our online platform located on www.washgi.com. On-demand virtual visits are currently available 8am-4pm PST Monday-Thursday and 8am-12pm PST on Friday.

On-demand virtual visits are suitable for most common GI conditions and concerns, similar to those patients would normally be seen for in an office visit. On-demand providers will be able to discuss, diagnose, prescribe treatment, and get you referred to imaging or order labs if necessary. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

You’ll need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a stable internet connection, a camera, and a microphone. There is no need to download any apps or software, the visit will launch directly from the waiting room webpage or from the link that is sent via text and email.

Wait time will depend on how many patients are in line ahead of you, but most of the time, the wait for existing patients is not too long. If you are new to our practice, we will need to first verify your coverage and pull necessary medical records, which can take up to a full business day. In order to ensure an optimal experience we recommend registering and getting into the virtual queue as early as you can. You will receive a text and email to let you know when the provider is ready to see you, so you do not have to wait in front of your computer screen. Visits are available 8am-4pm PST Monday-Thursday and 8am-12pm PST on Friday.

On-demand visits are now available for both new and established patients who are 18 years or older and residents of WA. Patients will need to enter valid insurance coverage in order to use this service, we cannot accommodate cash pay for on-demand visits at this time. There are also some insurance plans that require a referral before a patient can be seen at Washington Gastroenterology, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate plans requiring referrals with on-demand visits at this time. Patients covered by Medicaid will need to first establish care with an in-office visit before using on-demand. We are happy to serve those patients requiring a referral and those not covered by insurance with a scheduled appointment.

You will receive a bill for the portion of the on-demand virtual visit that was not covered by your insurance shortly after your visit. This bill will provide options and instructions for submitting payment.

If a prescription is necessary, the healthcare provider will send it directly to your preferred pharmacy.

No, on-demand virtual visits are not suitable for emergencies. In case of a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room. If you have an urgent GI concern, that is not an emergency but needs timely attention, on-demand visits may be a great alternative to visiting an urgent care or emergency department.

You will not be able to select a specific provider for an on-demand visit, but rest assured that our on-demand visit clinicians are the same incredible staff that provide our scheduled telehealth visits today.

Once you complete the online registration you will see a confirmation page stating that you are now in the virtual waiting room. When the provider is ready to start your visit the video connection will automatically start from this page. You will also receive a text and an email, to the number and address provided during registration, letting you know the provider is ready to begin and providing a direct link to join your virtual visit. The provider may try to call you directly at the phone number provided if there continues to be difficulty connecting.

Yes, we prioritize the security and confidentiality of your health information. Our virtual visit platform complies with privacy regulations, and all communication is encrypted to ensure the protection of your data.