St. Luke's, BCM Launch Advanced Endoscopy in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- St. Luke’s Health–The Woodlands Hospital is proud to announce the launch of advanced gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy services, expanding access to innovative minimally invasive care for patients in the region. This expansion brings the nationally recognized expertise of the faculty in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Center for Advanced Endoscopy closer to home for patients north of Houston.

The BCM Center for Advanced Endoscopy, led by Director Dr. Wasif Abidi, is a premier destination for the diagnosis and treatment of complex digestive conditions. “Our team is committed to advancing the field of endoscopy through innovation, precision and collaboration,” Dr. Abidi said. With a multidisciplinary approach, the center’s team of expert advanced endoscopists works closely with referring physicians and specialists to evaluate patients, perform advanced endoscopic procedures and create personalized treatment plans.

“Our goal is to provide patients in The Woodlands with the highest quality care without the need to travel far from home,” said Dr. Hashem El-Serag, chair of the Department of Medicine and vice president for the Learning Health System at BCM. “By expanding our services, we can deliver timely evaluation and management of challenging gastrointestinal conditions supported by the full resources of Baylor College of Medicine.”

Dr. Mohamed Othman, section chief of gastroenterology and hepatology in the Department of Medicine at BCM, emphasized the impact this collaboration will have on patient care. “This expansion allows our team to extend Baylor’s advanced endoscopic expertise beyond the Texas Medical Center,” Dr. Othman said. “Patients in The Woodlands and surrounding communities will now have direct access to highly specialized procedures and multidisciplinary care that were previously only available in central Houston.”

“We are incredibly proud and excited to bring these advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy services, backed by the renowned expertise of the BCM Center for Advanced Endoscopy, directly to our community here in The Woodlands,” said Jim Parisi, President of St. Luke’s Health–The Woodlands Hospital. “This expansion significantly enhances our ability to provide cutting-edge minimally invasive care for complex digestive conditions, ensuring our patients receive world-class treatment closer to home and eliminating the need for arduous travel. It’s a true testament to our commitment to delivering the highest quality health care with exceptional convenience.”

The expanded program offers a full spectrum of advanced therapeutic endoscopic procedures, including:

• Treating blockages in the bile ducts
• Managing ongoing or recurring pancreas problems
• Addressing complex digestive issues after surgery
• Removing early cancers without major surgery
• Helping swallowing issues due to esophagus problems or slow stomach emptying
• Using endoscopic ultrasound for precise diagnosis of complex pancreatic and biliary disease
• Fixing heartburn and reflux without open surgery
• Providing specialized care for specific conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus (a precancerous condition), pancreatic cysts and enlarged veins (varices) that can cause bleeding, as well as other complex digestive disorders

By combining state-of-the-art technology with the expertise of Baylor Medicine physicians, the Woodlands location offers patients faster access to advanced care for conditions such as abdominal pain, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, suspected malignancies and complex post-surgical anatomy.

To learn more about these services, call 713-798-0947 or visit commonspirit.org/woodlands.