Gastroenterology

Digestive Disease Center

One out of every two Rhode Islanders suffer from digestive diseases such as stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids and chronic heartburn that occur in the digestive tract. That’s why RWMC has created an integrated Digestive Disease Center.

The digestive disease team at Roger Williams is defined by a patient-first approach, teamwork and an eagerness to embrace the latest technology. The team is composed of a talented group of physicians, nurses, technologists, and support staff who diagnose, study, and care for various disorders of the stomach, small intestines, colon, liver, pancreas, and other organs.

Our digestive disease team also works to educate patients about disease management, signs of a GI ailment, and other helpful information that can help individuals better recognize and manage ailments of the digestive system.

In more than two decades under the direction of Alan Epstein, MD, the team at Roger Williams has been at the forefront of exciting changes in the field. Dr. Epstein is joined by two other full-time physicians on staff -- Dr. Amer Malik and Dr. Nabil Toubia. Patients benefit from the collaboration among three doctors in an ambulatory hospital unit where quality, successful outcomes and safe treatment are the highest priority. In the hospital setting, our physicians can readily collaborate with their peers in Interventional Radiology, our medical and surgical services like laparoscopic surgical division, and directly consult with digestive disease pathologists.

Leading edge Endoscopy leads the way to accurate diagnosis and treatment

Endoscopy allows doctors to take a closer look into the patient's digestive tract. Endoscopy is a part of the movement towards non-invasive therapies and offers many patients an alternative to surgery.

Accurate diagnosis of digestive tract problems is greatly enhanced by the use of endoscopy, a technique in which a plastic tube equipped with a light and video camera are inserted through the mouth or anus, enabling an internal video examination and providing doctors with the visual information they need for an accurate diagnosis. Problems of the digestive tract are treatable by medication, changes in lifestyle and diet, and surgery.

Patients visit for a wide range of services, ranging from colon cancer screenings to diagnostic procedures on the pancreas to revolutionary treatments that will assist surgical oncologists. About three-fourths of those visits will be on an outpatient basis. Our staff is trilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and can also work with patients in French and Arabic.

For help finding or scheduling an appointment click here.

Fatima Hospital Endoscopy Center

Today’s medical technology allows our trained health care providers to look inside the body to investigate an ailment, confirm a diagnosis or deliver treatment. Many medical devices require an incision to see inside a patient’s body, but our endoscopy team uses advanced tools, such as the endoscope, to look inside our patients to determine the cause of symptoms like abdominal pain or internal bleeding. Additionally, we can confirm a diagnosis by performing a biopsy, as well as deliver treatments like the removal of a polyp or cauterization of a bleeding vessel.

Conscious sedation through our Anesthesia department is an option for a number of procedures.

Some common procedures performed at our new center include:

•  Colonoscopy
•  Esophago Gastro Duodenoscopy
•  Liver Biopsies
•  Paracentesis
•  Bronchoscopy
•  Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography

Other services:

•  PH Probe
•  Esophageal Motility

If you would like your endoscopy care delivered by highly respected professionals in a state-of-the-art facility, please call us at 456-3466.

How to Contact Us:

200 High Service Ave.
North Providence, RI 02904
401-456-3466