Why IDDC

Iowa Digestive Disease Center and Iowa Endoscopy Center specializes in the management care and treatment of adults with digestive disease/gastrointestinal disorders. We offer a full range of services:

Prevention – Medical Management – Diagnostic – Interventional

Our group is comprised of 13 Board Certified Gastroenterologists and 8 Nurse Practitioners. We provide coverage for 5 local hospitals with consultative support and hospital-based procedures. Our physicians carry an expertise in the areas of Crohns Disease, Liver Disease, Hepatitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Awards and Recognition

  • American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program.
  • Recognition – Family Medicine Teaching
  • Joint Commission Accreditation

Community Service

We serve our community as health practitioners and educators. As practitioners we endeavor to bring awareness about colon cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease to the community through our Annual Colon Cancer Run and through our IBD Support Group called ‘Doc in the Box’.

As educators we teach medical students, medical residents, primary care physicians and other specialists about gastrointestinal disorders and the appropriate treatment for each disorder. We teach patients and families about their conditions and strive to provide general education to the community about gastrointestinal health.

Research

Iowa Digestive Disease Center and Iowa Endoscopy Center has a long partnership with HEARTLAND Medical Research, Inc., engaging in research for the betterment of patient care. We are currently participating in twelve clinical trials – all focusing on improving care and outcomes.

Current trials focus on multiple drug trials and conditions including:

  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Inflamatory Bowel Disesae
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Crohns
  • Chronic Constipation
  • Liver Disease

Technology

Bravo pH Capsule Endoscopy offers a unique less-invasive way to diagnosis conditions.

Education

As community physicians it is oftentimes difficult to engage in teaching activities. Even with such difficulty we engage in multiple teaching initiatives:

  • Conferences – Liver Disease; IBS, Crohn’s
  • Student Teaching – Iowa Lutheran Family Medicine; Mercy Family Medicine; DMU
  • Instructorships – Mercy Hospital Medical Center
  • ARNP Preceptorships

Physician Leadership Roles

  • Unity Point Population Health Governance
  • Unity Point Quality Committee
  • Mercy Medical Center Medical Executive Committee
  • Wellmark Quality Committee

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

InFusion Center

Infusion therapy is performed when a patient does not respond well to other treatment methods.

Endoscopy Center

Iowa Endoscopy Center is a free standing Ambulatory Surgery Center dedicated to gastro-intestinal endoscopy.

Therapeutics Center

Advanced therapeutics begin when standard endoscopic procedures no longer serve the patient.

IBD Center

A multi disciplinary center of excellence for adults and children with Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.