If you’re struggling with digestive issues like persistent acid reflux, bloating, or an annoying stomach ache, you might be wondering who’s the right expert to see – a gastroenterologist or a GI specialist. Both are trained to help with digestive health, but their roles and expertise differ.
Gastro One is here to clear up the confusion, helping you understand who can provide the care you need. Knowing the distinction ensures you get the right gastrointestinal treatments at the right time.
Who is a GI Specialist?
A GI specialist, often referred to as an advanced-practice provider (APP), is a healthcare professional trained to support digestive health under the supervision of a physician. This includes nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) who have specialized knowledge in gastrointestinal disorders.
While they cannot perform complex surgeries, GI specialists manage many digestive conditions, provide patient education, coordinate care, and perform certain procedures. They work closely with gastroenterologists to ensure patients receive comprehensive digestive care.
Who is a Gastroenterologist?
A gastroenterologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the digestive system, including the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas. After completing medical school, they undergo extensive training in internal medicine and a further fellowship in gastroenterology.
Gastroenterologists are qualified to perform advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, prescribe medications, and manage complex digestive conditions. Their in-depth expertise allows them to handle cases that require higher-level medical intervention beyond the scope of GI specialists.
What Conditions Does a GI Specialist Treat?
GI specialists help manage a wide range of digestive issues, focusing on patient care, monitoring, and preventive strategies. They provide support, education, and guidance to ensure patients maintain optimal digestive health. Common conditions they manage include:
- Acid Reflux & Gastritis – Monitoring symptoms and providing lifestyle or medication guidance.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Helping manage constipation, diarrhea, and bloating through diet and care plans.
- Chronic Conditions – Assisting in monitoring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease alongside a gastroenterologist.
- Mild Liver Disorders – Supporting patients with early-stage liver issues through lifestyle counseling.
- General Digestive Issues – Educating patients on diet, symptom management, and medication adherence.
What Conditions Does a Gastroenterologist Treat?
Gastroenterologists are doctors of gastrointestinal disorders who manage both common and complex digestive disorders, offering advanced care and interventions. They diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Acid Reflux & Peptic Ulcers – Providing long-term management and treatment options.
- Gallstones & Pancreatitis – Handling both acute and chronic cases, often with procedural interventions.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Managing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis with comprehensive care plans.
- Liver Diseases – Treating hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other serious liver conditions.
- Colorectal Cancer & Rare GI Conditions – Diagnosing, coordinating advanced treatments, and performing specialized endoscopic procedures.
- Digestive Emergencies – Handling severe, complex, or persistent gastrointestinal issues requiring urgent care.
Procedures Performed by a GI Specialist
GI specialists play a key role in supporting digestive health through non-invasive and patient-focused procedures. Their work includes:
- Patient Assessments & Lab Tests – Conducting thorough evaluations, ordering and interpreting blood work, stool tests, and other routine labs.
- Screenings – Performing routine screenings such as fecal occult blood tests to detect early signs of digestive issues.
- Diagnostic Support – Assisting with breath tests for H. pylori infections and other basic diagnostic procedures.
- Basic Endoscopic Procedures – Under supervision, performing flexible sigmoidoscopies or upper endoscopies for routine checkups.
- Post-Procedure Care – Educating patients on preparation, recovery, and adherence to follow-up care plans.
- Collaboration & Chronic Care – Working alongside gastroenterologists to support advanced procedures, monitor chronic conditions, and guide diet, lifestyle, and symptom management.
By bridging the gap between primary care and specialized gastroenterology, GI specialists ensure smooth, continuous, and personalized digestive care for patients.
Procedures Performed by a Gastroenterologist
Gastroenterologists are trained to perform advanced diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal disease treatments to manage complex digestive conditions. Their work includes:
- Endoscopic Procedures – Performing colonoscopies, upper endoscopies (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound, and ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) for diagnosis and treatment.
- Polyp Removal & Biopsies – Removing polyps, taking tissue samples, and treating bleeding lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Liver & Pancreas Interventions – Managing complex liver procedures, variceal banding, and severe pancreatitis care.
- Cancer & IBD Management – Screening for colorectal cancer, coordinating treatments, and managing inflammatory bowel disease.
- Advanced Care Coordination – Collaborating with surgeons, ordering advanced imaging, and providing pharmacological interventions as needed.
- Collaboration with GI Specialists – Ensuring continuity of care, guiding patients through diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for optimal digestive health outcomes.
Their expertise allows them to handle both routine and complex gastrointestinal conditions with precision and comprehensive care.
FAQs
1. Is a GI specialist the same as a colon doctor?
No. A GI specialist (APP) supports digestive care under a doctor’s supervision, while a colon doctor (gastroenterologist) is a medical doctor trained to diagnose and treat colon and other GI conditions.
2. Can a gastroenterologist treat colon cancer?
Yes. Gastroenterologists diagnose, manage, and treat colon cancer through screening, colonoscopy, biopsies, and coordination with surgeons or oncologists, ensuring comprehensive care from detection to treatment.
3. When should I visit a gastroenterologist?
You should visit a gastroenterologist if you experience persistent digestive symptoms, including:
- Chronic abdominal pain or bloating
- Frequent heartburn or acid reflux
- Unexplained diarrhea or constipation
- Blood in stool or black stools
- Sudden, unexplained weight loss
4. Who treats diseases of the esophagus?
Gastroenterologists specialize in treating esophageal disorders, including acid reflux, esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, strictures, and swallowing difficulties, using diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures.
5. Can my sudden weight loss be related to GI disorders?
Yes. Sudden or unexplained weight loss can result from gastrointestinal disorders like celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, or cancers, and should be evaluated by a gastroenterologist promptly.
Experiencing digestive issues? Reach out to Gastro One for trusted care.
Understanding the difference between a GI specialist and a gastroenterologist can help you choose the right care for your digestive health. If you are experiencing symptoms of any gastrointestinal disorder, visit a trusted GI doctor near you, like Gastro One.
At Gastro One, we specialize in treating all gastrointestinal disorders and offer personalized and advanced care. Whether you need a consultation, procedure, or ongoing management, our team is here to support you.
Patients in Germantown, Memphis, Bartlett, Southaven, and DeSoto County, MS, can securely update their health info via the Gastro One Portal or schedule an appointment today.
