Below is a guest column by Dr. Overholt the Knoxville News Sentinel and knoxnews.com recently ran on helping patients in need against the backdrop of the national health care debate.
Knoxnews.com Guest column: As we debate health reform, let's continue to help others
by Dr. Gene Overholt
While Washington policymakers debated health care reform on TV talk shows the weekend of Oct. 17-18, 48 people who are out of work or without health insurance received free colonoscopy screenings at Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) in Knoxville.
More than half of the group at the first "GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day" had polyps removed. One was Gloria Hutchison, 60, a Knoxville woman with no health insurance.
"I saw the sign at The Free Medical Clinic and knew I should do it," Hutchison told my colleagues at GIA. "I have a family history of polyps. I am so glad I was able to do this; it's so important. They did find a polyp and removed it."
Polyps are typically benign, but a small percentage may contain a small area of cancer or develop into cancer. Colon cancer is the second most deadly type.
The 25 people with polyps represented a higher percentage than in the population as a whole, so this was a big step in the battle against colon cancer. Thankfully, the pathology results showed no cancers in the polyps removed.
The InterFaith Health Clinic and The Free Medical Clinic of America, two Knoxville-based organizations that provide health care to those in need, referred the patients to us.
A version of "GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day" is one way other U.S. gastrointestinal practices can help those less fortunate and can help make everyone aware of the need for colon screenings.
Periodic colon exams are essential to preventing colon cancer, especially for persons age 50 or over. People with a family history of colon cancer may need to have the exam even earlier.
The national health care debate has focused attention on the role of physicians and other health care professionals. Screening days such as GIA's can be great demonstrations of the concern medical professionals have for the well-being of their patients.
In fact, physician groups across the country are giving back to their communities generously.
In our community alone, for example, Summit Medical Group helped found and annually sponsors Free Flu Shot Saturday with the Knoxville News Sentinel and other partners. Covenant Health, Mercy Health and the University of Tennessee Medical Center sponsor races, walks and other events to battle cancer. The list goes on and on.
If the government does not interfere with this type of activity through health care reform, we can do great things for the public. Yet, if the government keeps lowering reimbursement, physicians will simply be unable to afford to give away this type of free care.
I thank my colleagues at GIA and sponsors The Endoscopy Center, GI Pathology of Memphis, Anesthesia Associates of Knoxville, Mercy Health Partners, Premier Surgical Associates, Boston Scientific, Interactive Optics, the American Cancer Society and Braintree Laboratories Inc. Media sponsors were the Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR-TV Channel 10.
It was a real privilege to serve the people from the InterFaith Health Clinic and the Free Medical Clinic of America.
Dr. Bergein "Gene" Overholt is a nationally recognized gastroenterologist who developed the flexible fibersigmoidoscope and colonoscope. GIA is a leading gastrointestinal practice in the Southeast.
GASTROINTESTINAL PRACTICE ISSUES NATIONAL CHALLENGE AFTER HALF OF NEEDY PATIENTS SCREENED SHOW POLYPS
KNOXVILLE, TN – More than half of the 48 needy patients receiving free colonoscopy screenings from Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) today had polyps removed, dramatically demonstrating the need for everyone to be screened in the battle against colon cancer.
Gloria Hutchison, 60, an uninsured patient from Knoxville, took advantage of the opportunity for a free screening at “GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day.”
“I saw the sign at The Free Medical Clinic and knew I should do it,” Hutchison said. “I have a family history of polyps. I am so glad I was able to do this; it’s so important. They did find a polyp and removed it.”
Polyps are typically benign, but a small percentage may contain a small area of cancer or develop into cancer. Colon cancer is the second most deadly cancer.
“More than half of the people screened today had polyps, and this is a higher percentage than in the population as a whole,” said Dr. Bergein F. (Gene) Overholt of GIA. “This is a big step in the battle against colon cancer. It was a real privilege to serve this group of people.”
GIA gastroenterologists screened recipients referred by the InterFaith Health Clinic and The Free Medical Clinic of America, two Knoxville-based charitable organizations that provide health care to those in need.
“Our physicians and staff volunteered their time for ‘GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day’ so that these individuals will have the same opportunity as the rest of us to avoid this deadly cancer,” Dr. Overholt said.
He called on other U.S. gastrointestinal practices across the U.S. to replicate “GIA Screening Colonoscopy Day” to help those less fortunate and to make everyone aware of the need for colon screenings
“The national health care debate has focused attention on the role of physicians and other health care professionals,” he said. “I think this can be a great demonstration of the concern medical professionals have for the well-being of their patients.”
Periodic colon exams are essential to preventing colon cancer, especially for persons age 50 or over, Overholt said. Persons who have a history of colon cancer in their families may need to have the exam even earlier.
All of the 48 persons scheduled had their screenings today. A total of 25 had polyps removed and sent for testing, 16 women and nine men. Twenty-three had no polyps, 15 women and eight men.
In addition to The Free Medical Clinic of America and the InterFaith Health Clinic, screening sponsors include Anesthesia Associates of Knoxville, Mercy Health Partners, Premier Surgical Associates, The Endoscopy Center, GI Pathology of Memphis, Boston Scientific, Interactive Optics, the American Cancer Society and Braintree Laboratories, Inc.
GIA is one of the leading gastrointestinal practices in the Southeast, contributing to significant gastrointestinal research. Dr. Overholt won national awards for developing the flexible fibersigmoidoscope-colonoscope.
NEW BLOG OFFERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION 'FOR YOUR DIGESTION'
Dr. Bergein "Gene" Overholt of Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) in Knoxville often sees patients turning to the Internet for answers to medical questions. Turning to new media to provide a reliable source for information, his new blog "For Your Digestion" helps people better understand medical issues affecting gastrointestinal health.
"People may not like to speak about gastrointestinal health issues, but many have them," said Dr. Overholt. "And there are screenings and tests for everyone over 50 to help avoid major problems down the road. This blog will offer frank, easy-to-understand information on the latest and most common gastrointestinal issues and ways to deal with them."
The physicians at GIA deal with a wide spectrum of health concerns such as colon health, heartburn, hemorrhoids, gallstones and diseases of the esophagus such as reflux and Barrett's esophagus. The blog will cover topics such as these, discussing the most current information on the issue and best treatment options. "For Your Digestion" can be found on the practice's Web site at http://www.gihealthcare.com.
"By carefully explaining the concerns, potential complications and solutions available, we hope more people will seek early diagnosis and treatment," said Dr. Overholt. "The earlier we can catch a problem, the better chance we have to treat or even eliminate it."
Dr. Overholt is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical School and well versed in gastrointestinal health. While completing his fellowship at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., he served in the U.S. Public Health Service in order to develop the flexible fibersigmoidoscope-colonoscope.
He later received the prestigious Schindler Award from the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the William Beaumont Award of the American Medical Association for the development.
Overholt has lectured widely on the subject of Barrett's esophagus and has published numerous articles on the subject.
He served as president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. He is a founding member and past president of the Tennessee Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Gastrointestinal Associates one of the Southeast's leading GI practices and is the only GI practice in Knoxville that operates three licensed and certified endoscopic ambulatory surgery centers in the north, central and west areas of Knoxville and Knox County. For more information, visit http://www.gihealthcare.com.
BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS TREATMENT REDUCES RISK OF DEADLY CANCER; KNOXVILLE GI GROUP AT FOREFRONT OF STUDY
Barrett's esophagus is a condition caused by repeated acid reflux that can in some people lead to a highly lethal type of esophageal cancer.
Thankfully there are advanced treatment options, and Knoxville's Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) has been at the forefront of studies on the effectiveness of those options.
Dr. Bergein F. "Gene" Overholt of GIA co-authored a recent article in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (PDF, 2.1mb) on treatment of Barrett's esophagus with a minimally invasive technique called radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
"Chronic acid reflux causes cells that normally line the esophagus to be replaced by cells similar to those found in the intestines," Overholt said. "One in 10 patients with chronic reflux develop Barrett's esophagus, which in itself is not life-threatening. However, a small percentage of people with Barrett's will develop esophageal adenocarcinoma, a very deadly cancer."
According to the Journal article, this once-rare cancer has increased 500 percent in incidence since the 1970s and has a five-year survival rate of less than 15 percent.
GIA was one of 19 centers across the United States to participate in the national study of radiofrequency ablation to treat Barrett's esophagus.
With RFA, a catheter is inserted into the esophagus, and a balloon is inflated to bring electrodes into contact with the lining of the esophagus, where the abnormal cells are located. The thermal energy from the electrodes kills the abnormal cells without damaging the whole esophagus.
"Patients who received radiofrequency ablation were significantly more likely than those in a control group to achieve complete eradication of the abnormal cells," Overholt said. "The study supports that this is an effective treatment."
The study showed that overall 77.4 percent of patients in the ablation group had complete eradication of the intestinal cells, as compared to 2.35 percent of those in a control group. Those with a lower grade of abnormal cells had 90.5 percent eradication compared to 22.7 percent in a control group.
The New England Journal of Medicine is the oldest continuously published medical journal and one of the most prestigious such publications in the world.
Gastrointestinal Associates P.c. is a leading national practice in conducting research in GI diseases. GIA is recognized nationally as a leading center for ablation (elimination) for Barrett's esophagus.
Dr. Overholt is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Medical School. While completing his fellowship at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., he served in the U.S. Public Health Service in order to develop the flexible fibersigmoidoscope-colonoscope.
He later received the prestigious Schindler Award from the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the William Beaumont Award of the American Medical Association for the development.
Overholt has lectured widely on the subject of Barrett's esophagus and has published numerous articles on the subject.
He served as president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. He is a founding member and past president of the Tennessee Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Gastrointestinal Associates is the only GI practice in Knoxville that operates three licensed and certified endoscopic ambulatory surgery centers in the north, central and west areas of Knoxville and Knox County. For more information and to view Dr. Overholt's "For Your Digestion" blog, visit http://www.gihealthcare.com.
Dr. Bergein (Gene) F. Overholt Discusses Propofol
The sedative Propofol was found at the home of pop singer Michael Jackson, according to news reports. WBIR-TV in Knoxville asked Dr. Bergein (Gene) F.
Overholt of Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) to discuss the drug on its "Newsmaker" segment July 7, 2009.
Dr. Overholt is a nationally recognized gastroenterologist, and GIA is a leading national practice in conducting research in GI diseases. Dr. Overholt stated that Propofol should only be used in supervised medical settings - hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers - with trained anesthesiologists or certified registered nurse anesthetists and that uses outside those settings are not safe.
“Great doctors and great staff make a great practice”
KNOXVILLE, TN – More than half of the 48 needy patients receiving free colonoscopy screenings from 
Dr. Bergein "Gene" Overholt of Gastrointestinal Associates (GIA) in Knoxville often sees patients turning to the Internet for answers to medical questions. Turning to new media to provide a reliable source for information, his new blog "For Your Digestion" helps people better understand medical issues affecting gastrointestinal health.
Barrett's esophagus is a condition caused by repeated acid reflux that can in some people lead to a highly lethal type of esophageal cancer.
