Northside Hospital offers comprehensive services for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal conditions including but not limited to peptic ulcer disease and heartburn, celiac disease, gallstones, pancreatitis, biliary and liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, a variety of colon problems such as fecal incontinence, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and diverticular disease. Northside Hospital is also focused on prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers of the colon, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.
Many gastrointestinal (GI) conditions are able to be treated on an out-patient basis. However, occasionally patients will require hospitalization to manage their condition. Northside Hospital recognizes this need and has a dedicated GI unit to care for this special patient group.
Atlanta campus: GI Medicine Floor located on 2 Northeast
The inpatient GI Medicine Unit is a 20 bed, newly renovated unit with all private rooms. We are a leader in customer and physician satisfaction. The 2NE team is focused on the individual needs of our patients. The Interdisciplinary Team, which includes the nursing team, various therapists, pharmacy, physicians, and other hospital specialists, collaborate with the patient and family to address their healthcare needs and prepare them for discharge. An integral part of the discharge process is patient education, which begins upon admission and is reassessed throughout the hospital stay. Our goal is to ensure that the patient and family are knowledgeable about their condition and confident and comfortable with their discharge instructions.
Colorectal Surgery patients are cared for on the General Surgery Floor located on 4 Central.
Forsyth campus: GI Medicine patients are cared for on the 3rd floor
Colorectal and General Sugery patients are cared for on the 4th floor
Cherokee campus: GI medical and surgical patients are cared for on the 2nd and 4th floors of the hospital.
Alpharetta campus: Building A, 2nd floor
GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Lab Services
Northside's GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Lab Services offer a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) procedures to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of GI conditions. Whether your procedure is a routine colon cancer screening or a procedure to diagnose and treat new GI symptoms, Northside’s team of gastroenterologists (physicians specializing in GI conditions) and GI nurses are ready to collaborate with you and the heath care team to develop an individual plan of care. Some of the health care team members working closely with the GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Labs are anesthesia (doctors and anesthetists specializing in sedation and pain control), respiratory therapists, radiology (doctors and technologists specializing in x-rays and special imaging like CT scans and MRI’s), ostomy nurses and the nutrition support team.
Some of the common procedures performed in Northside Hospitals’ GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Labs include:
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD or upper endoscopy) – This test allows the doctor to look inside the esophagus (swallowing tube), the stomach and the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum using a video image.
- Colonoscopy – This test allows the doctor to look inside the colon (large intestine) using a video image.
In addition to these common procedures, each Lab is able to treat many GI conditions at the time of the procedure such as stopping a stomach ulcer from bleeding, removing a colon polyp that may have turned into cancer if not found, or removing a blockage from the bile pathway that was causing pain and pancreatitis.
We also provide some innovative services to our growing Atlanta Metro Community. Some of these innovative services include:
At the Atlanta Campus
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Endoscopic Bronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) – These special endoscopy procedures provide the additional ability to use ultrasound imaging inside the GI and pulmonary structures to identify cancer in earlier stages or other abnormalities. Once early cancers or abnormalities are identified a treatment plan can be developed.
- Ablation Therapy for Barrett’s Esophagus - This procedure allows for the non-surgical treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus (pre-cancerous changes to the esophagus) before esophageal cancer occurs.
- Esophageal Manometry and Esophageal pH studies – These procedures help collect information about the strength and coordination of movements and acid levels from reflux in the esophagus.
- Anorectal Manometry, Pudendal Nerve Testing and Biofeedback – These tests help to collect information about the strength and coordination of movements and sensation in the rectum related to bowel control.
- Hydrogen Breath Testing – This test helps to identify intolerance to certain types of sugars like lactose (milk sugar) or an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut that can lead to unwanted GI symptoms. For more information about:
At the Forsyth Campus
- High Resolution Esophageal Manometry, Esophageal Impedance Studies and Esophageal pH Monitoring – These procedures help collect information about the strength and coordination of movements and acid levels from reflux in the esophagus.
At the Alpharetta Campus
| Locations/Operating Hours of the GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Labs: |
Atlanta Campus: Cancer Center Building, Ground Floor
Hours of operation: M-F 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
On-call staff are available after hours M-F, weekends, and holidays for emergency treatment.
Phone Number: 404-851-8595
Fax number: 404-303-3467
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Forsyth Campus: 1200 Surgery Center Building, First Floor
Hours of operation: M-F: 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.;
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: on-call staff are available for emergencies 24/7.
Phone Number: 770-844-3542
Fax Number: 770-844-3545
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Cherokee Campus: Second floor, adjacent to Surgical Services
Hours of operation: M-F 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: on-call staff are available for emergencies 24/7.
Phone Number: 770-720-5260
Fax Number: 678-493-1560 or 678-880-3719
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Alpharetta Campus: 3400 Old Milton Parkway, Building A, Suite 240
Hours of operation: M-F 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Phone Number: 770-667-4465
Reception Desk: 770-667-4447
Fax Number: 770-667-4492 |
Information prior to coming for your procedure:
You have the option of completing some of your admission documents before you arrive for your GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Lab procedure.
Patient Pre-Registration Information
Please click on the link above to navigate to the Patient Pre-Registration page. Here you will find additional links, instructions, answers to frequent questions and contact information should you need assistance from a hospital representative.
Patient Data Base Form
Please click on the link above to access the Patient Data Base Form. Please print a copy, complete the requested information about your medical history and medications, then bring this copy with you to your procedure.
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Access additional patient information, including educational videos about your procedures.
