Newsline Fall / Winter 2011
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology Welcomes Dr. Ashish Thekdi.
Dr. Ashish Thekdi recently joined the staff of Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology’s Matthews Office. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Thekdi graduated from Case University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, with a concentration in internal medicine. After his residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Thekdi completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit, Mich.
However, it was the time he spent at Duke University, with majors in biology and economics, that eventually brought Dr. Thekdi to Charlotte. “I really enjoyed North Carolina and thought it would be a wonderful place to live,” he says. “When my sister and her family moved to Charlotte, I decided that it was an opportune time for me to return to North Carolina.”
While Dr. Thekdi enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and sports, he says that practicing medicine is his true passion.
“My father was a physician,” Dr. Thekdi says, “so I learned at an early age about the work of helping people. It is very rewarding to be with people during perhaps the worst time in their lives and being able to help them through it.”
Open Access, Easy Access
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology’s Open Access Colonoscopy Program is designed to allow well patients 50 and over, without significant gastrointestinal symptoms, eliminate a preliminary office visit before scheduling a colonoscopy. The patient fills out a medical questionnaire, which is then reviewed by a staff member to determine eligibility for the Open Access program.
If there are no recognized medical problems, a member of our staff calls the patient to schedule the colonoscopy, and the referring physician is notified. Patients with health concerns are scheduled for an office visit with one of our physicians before scheduling the procedure.
Patients 65 and older must have a history and physical on file with their primary care physician within 30 days of the Open Access Colonoscopy.
Patients can obtain a form by calling our appointment line: 704.377.0246; or by visiting our Web site: charlottegastro.com. Click on Patient Forms on the Home page, and then, Open Access Colonoscopy.
Referring physicians’ offices can obtain a medical questionnaire by going to the top left corner of the Home page of our Web site under Referring MDs. The patient or a representative from your office completes the form, which is then faxed or e-mailed to our office. Additional forms can be ordered by calling 704.717.5548.
Easy Access GI Consult is open only to referring MDs and should be utilized for patients who do not qualify for the healthy Open Access program or for patients in need of general GI care. Easy Access GI Consult forms are available in your office or on our Web site under the Referring MD tab, or they can be ordered by calling 704.377.0246, option 4.
Research Studies Underway
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology is committed to providing its patients every available resource, including research studies, for the treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disease. Over the past 11 years, we have participated in numerous national research studies, including Phase II, III, and IV drug trials.
Under the direction of John S. Hanson, MD, Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology is currently enrolling patients with:
Crohn’s disease: inadequate response, loss of response, intolerance to immunomodulators and/or anti-TNF
Crohn’s disease: inadequate response to any Crohn’s treatment, i.e. 5-ASA, steroids, immunomodulators, or anti-TNF
Crohn’s disease: s/p ileocolonic surgical resection within the past 14 to 24 days
Crohn’s disease: currently failing or hx of failure/intolerance to steroids/immunomodulators/anti-TNF therapy
Proctitis: inadequate response to 5-ASA product, or currently flaring without treatment
Diverticulitis: flare of left-sided diverticulitis within the past six months
HCV Tx naïve: genotype 1 Tx naïve HCV patients who have IL-28B genotype of CC
HCV genotype 1b null responders: HCV genotype 1b who are null responders to at least 12 weeks of pegIFN and RBV
Ulcerative colitis: Hx of inadequate response or intolerance to 5-ASAs, prednisone, immunosuppressants, or anti-TNF agents, or are currently failing therapy
Physicians may refer patients to our Web site — www.charlottegastro.com — to determine qualifications for any of the research studies, or contact research coordinators, Lori Sell: lori.sell@charlottegastro.com.
Convenient CT Offered at SouthPark
For our patients’ convenience, Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology is now able to provide CT services at its South Park location. Computed tomography is used to scan the abdomen and pelvis, revealing organs such as the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. CT is also used to review the gastrointestinal tract after oral contrast procedures (drinking liquid) or to view enhanced images of organs after the injection of dye solutions. Results are offered within 24 hours of testing, relieving the anxiety often associated with CT. The CT unit is accredited by the American College of Radiology.
GYRIG Raises Money and Awareness
This past March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology partnered with Presbyterian Cancer Center as co-sponsor of the second annual Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk at Independence Park. Get Your Rear in Gear is a national organization dedicated to ensuring “that all citizens have adequate information and access to screening for colon cancer.”
Charlotte Gastroenterology & Hepatology fortified its commitment to saving lives by sponsoring a Health & Wellness Expo at the event. Race
participants and their supporters received expert information on colorectal cancer and its prevention from staff physicians.
Charlotte Gastroenterology’s physicians and staff joined others touched by the disease in the 5K run/walk, which raised over $70,000. Seventy-five percent of the funds will be reinvested in Charlotte to increase community awareness of colorectal cancer and provide screening programs for those in need.