We diagnose and treat a number of gastrointestinal disorders that generally stem from diet, environment and/or heredity. Our board-certified providers carefully assess each patient's symptoms and condition to pinpoint and treat the problem.
Anal Incontinence
Anal Pain
Anemia
Barrett’s Esophagus
Bowel Incontinence
Celiac Disease
Cirrhosis
Colitis, Microscopic
Colitis, Ulcerative
Colon Cancer
Colonic Polyps
Colonic Volvulus
Constipation and change in bowel habits
Crohn's Disease
Diarrhea
Diverticular Disease
Diverticulitis
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Fecal Incontinence
Gall Stones
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Gastroparesis
GERD (Acid Reflux, Heartburn)
Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Hemochromatosis
Hemorrhoids
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis, Autoimmune
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Liver Disease
Malignant tumors of anal canal
NAFLD, NASH
Pancreatitis Acute, Chronic
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Rectal Bleeding
Rectal Cancer
Ulcers
Ulcerative Colitis
Mercy’s Gastroenterology Clinic offers a variety of both inpatient and outpatient procedures. Learn more about the procedures listed below.
Breath Testing
Capsule Endoscopy
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy with Complex Polypectomy
EGD (Upper Endoscopy/Gastroscopy)
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography)
Esophageal Manometry
Esophageal pH Study
Hemorrhoid Surgery (Rubberband Ligation)
Sigmoidoscopy / Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Your physician will give you instructions for the type of preparations you will need to make for the procedure you are undergoing. Compliance with these guidelines is necessary for a safe and complete exam and sedation. Failure to comply may result in cancellation of your procedure.
You will be reminded to have a responsible adult to drive you home and be in constant attendance for 24 hours after your procedure. You will be asked to bring a list of your medications and allergies. If you are diabetic, you need to bring your insulin and blood glucose monitor. Your doctor will give you instructions on taking any diabetic medicine before your procedure. Usually, you will be asked not to take it until after your procedure. Hold all of your other medications unless your physician has instructed you otherwise.
The Day Of Your Procedure
- Plan to arrive one to two hours before your procedure. Park in the second level ramp, North entrance, and proceed to the Digestive Health Center (Endoscopy).
- When you arrive, you will be taken to a prep room to be admitted. This process usually takes 30 minutes.
- Wear comfortable clothing. Remove all jewelry including piercings. Leave all valuables and money at home.
- Procedures are scheduled for 30 to 60 minutes. A relative/friend can wait in your prep room while you have your procedure. The physician will discuss the findings with him or her after the procedure, with your permission.
Outpatients
You will be observed in a recovery room and then will be discharged. An adult must accompany you home from the hospital. This should be arranged before your procedure. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home or go unaccompanied by public transportation because of the sedation you receive. You must also have an adult in attendance for 24 hours after your procedure.
Inpatients
The Digestive Health Center staff will come to get you 30 minutes before your procedure time. Your family/friend can wait with you. The physician will discuss the findings with him or her after your procedure, with your permission. Your family will accompany you back to your room after the procedure, where you will recover.
Contact Us With Questions
Each patient is unique, so specific questions about your procedure should be discussed with your physician, or you can call the Gastroenterology Clinic at (319) 369-4542.
Learn the important steps that need to be followed in preparing for your colonoscopy exam.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions we receive from patients. If your question in not listed below, feel free to give our office a call at (319) 369-4542.
Will I be asleep for this procedure? Not necessarily. The sedation medication relaxes you, so you are still able to breathe on your own and respond to commands throughout the procedure.
Will this be painful? Our goal is to keep you comfortable and safe. We want you to continue to breathe on your own without assistance and keep you as comfortable as possible.
How long does it take for the medication to wear off? The sedation may stay in your system for up to 24 hours. Most patients are awake and ready to go home within an hour after the procedure. You may feel drowsy and a little dizzy throughout the day, which is why it is important to have someone drive you home and be with you the first 24 hours.
What happens if I start drinking the preparation laxative and I become nauseated or start vomiting? Slow down. If you’re drinking the gallon preparation (TriLyte, NuLytely or GoLytely) then try to drink 4 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes after waiting about 30 minutes. Try to drink as much as you can as this will improve the quality of the preparation and the quality of the examination.
What happens if I drink the preparation and get no results? If you don’t have frequent and progressively looser bowel movements within 3 hours of taking the preparation you will likely need something else to help it to work properly. Have someone purchase rectal suppositories from a pharmacy. Place one in the rectum and if this doesn’t help, call the GI office at (319) 369-4542.
Can I take aspirin, anticoagulants, or blood thinners before the procedure? It is recommended that you discuss with your GI doctor or the prescribing physician to find out if you should stop taking aspirin, arthritis medications, anticoagulants, and blood thinners about 4 days before the procedure to reduce the risk of bleeding if polyps need to be removed. In most cases the procedure can still be performed if you forget to stop them. You should stop taking them as soon as you remember and call the GI office at (319) 369-4542. If you are taking Coumadin (warfarin), you should call the GI endoscopy unit at (319) 369-4542 as soon as you realize the error.
I seem to be all ‘cleaned out’ but haven’t finished my preparation. Do I need to finish it? Yes. You must follow the preparation instructions provided to you to help ensure an accurate and thorough examination.
Who can I call if I have questions regarding the preparation? If you are a patient scheduled for a colonoscopy and have problems with the preparation and/or have questions during weekday hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) call (319) 369-4542 and ask to speak with the GI nurse.
Family members and visitors are an important part of your care and treatment. When your initial assessment is complete and your IV started, your family members and/or visitors may sit with you until your exam. When your exam has been completed, your physician will speak with your family members and/or visitors (with your permission). We will ask that your family members and/or visitors remain in the Digestive Health Center until they have spoken with your physician. They then may stay with you for the remainder of your visit.
Follow the steps below to transfer your care to Mercy providers:
- Complete the consent to transfer form (PDF).
- Send your completed consent form by fax to (319) 369-4543 or by mail to:
Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic
788 8th Ave. SE, Suite 300
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
- Call Mercy Gastroenterology Clinic at (319) 369-4542 to schedule an appointment.
Mercy’s GI Clinic prides itself on providing patients with a high standard of care and that shows in their quality data.
The following is the precancer polyp detection rate showing the percentage of colonoscopies where Mercy gastroenterologists are finding and removing precancers compared with the national benchmark set by the ASGE (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) the governing body of gastroenterology.
Screening Colonoscopy Females:
Mercy: 28.52%
National Benchmark: 15% or greater
Screening Colonoscopy Males:
Mercy: 32.29%
National Benchmark: 25% or greater
The following is the average length of time for a colonoscopy procedure at Mercy compared with the ASGE national benchmark.
Length of time for colonoscopy:
Mercy: 15.66 minutes
National Benchmark: 9 minutes or greater
To ensure Mercy gastroenterologists find and remove all precancers and abnormalities in the colon, our gastroenterologists spend more time during the procedure than the national benchmark.
Reporting period 7/1/2019 through 6/30/2020
