Welcome
The Digestive Health Center at Uniontown Hospital is our resource for superior quality diagnostic and therapeutic care. Our physicians, nurses, and support team are specially trained in digestive health care, and utilize the newest technologies and procedures to facilitate your treatment. To assure you the greatest possible convenience and economy, the Center is designed to enable you to be prepared for the procedure, have it performed, and recover all in the same facility.
We realize that you will have questions about your treatment. From the moment you arrive at the Center we encourage you to consult with our staff. Their goal is to keep you informed about and comfortable with your care. Remember, you're in the hands of experts dedicated to your health.
Patients of the Digestive Health Center benefit from the newest advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders. One of the most commonly performed diagnostic procedures is endoscopy. A flexible tube containing fiberoptic bundles is inserted into the esophagus and stomach where it sends back accurate, close-up images of the upper digestive tract. The procedure takes about 10 minutes to perform, and causes minimal, if any, discomfort.
Similar procedures using fiberoptic technology are also performed at the Center. Flexible sigmoidoscopy uses a two-foot long tube and powerful light source to examine the lining of the rectum and lower portion of the colon. A similar procedure, colonoscopy, can examine the entire length of the colon. ECRP, a specialized form of endoscopy, helps diagnose problems in the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
The Center also offers upper and lower motility studies to diagnose such problems as swallowing disorders, unexplained chest pain, constipation, and rectal incontinence. Twenty-four hour pH monitoring assists in diagnosing and treating heartburn.
Regardless of the procedure you are scheduled for, remember that your care is in the hands of highly trained professionals armed with the newest techniques for solving an array of digestive disorders.
How to Check InOn the day of your scheduled procedure, you should report directly to Digestive Health Center on the third floor (located next to Intensive Care). The Digestive Health Care Staff will call you the afternoon prior to your procedure with your arrival time. A brief medical history will be conducted covering such topics as allergies, medications and why the procedure is being performed. Please bring insurance cards and forms with you.
We request that you park in the main visitor's lot located in the front of the hospital. It is important that you have someone else available to drive you home if you will be leaving that day.
Please wear loose-fitting clothes on the day of your procedure. We ask that you do not wear make-up, fingernail polish, jewelry or contact lenses.
Purses, wallets and other valuable should be left at home. Lockers with keys are available to secure clothing, eyeglasses and dentures.
Preparing for Your ProcedureYou will receive specific instructions from our staff on preparing for your procedure. For your reference these general guidelines should be followed:
- Total length of stay at the Center, from admission through recovery, is 2.5 to 3 hours. The length of time to complete a gastroscopy is 15 to 20 minutes, a colonoscopy is 30 to 40 minutes, and a bronchoscopy is 30 to 60 minutes.
- You must not eat or drink any fluids after midnight prior to your procedure. Patients scheduled for colonoscopies should be on a clear liquid diet for a full day prior to the exam. The day before the exam, patients are instructed to start a bowel prep.
- Any medications a patient may be taking will be reviewed by a nurse and specific instructions will be given.
- You are encouraged to ask questions of any staff member - physician, anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, and RN's. Consulting with these professionals can help allay your concerns and enhance the comfort of your stay.
We recommend that patients be accompanied by an adult to the Digestive Health Center. One person is permitted to stay with the patient at bedside. Family members and other visitors can relax in the Center's waiting room where refreshments are provided. An additional waiting room is available adjacent to the Intensive Care Unit.
Discharge ProceduresPatients are required to remain in the recovery area for one hour after the completion of the procedure. During that time patients are monitored for 30 minutes and given fluids and snacks. Your physician will relate the findings of the diagnostic test and provide discharge instructions.
Patients who have received certain medications during their procedure are not permitted to drive for 24 hours. Please consult with your nurse for specific instructions.
Paying for ServicesWe accept most health insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Help with filling out claim forms and/or making other financial arrangements is provided.
The Digestive Health Center is located on the third floor of Uniontown Hospital and can be reached by calling (724) 430-5680.
