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Gastroenterology

As of Jan 1, 2023, the division's capacity to see patients is reduced. Urgent and semi-urgent patients will continue to be seen however non-urgent consults will not be accepted due to the very long waitlist.


For refering physicians:  Our division is supporting  individual online case consultation through eCASE (http://www.raceconnect.ca/ecase/). This can serve as an alternative to a standard non-urgent referral given our extensive waitlist.



NEW PROCESS 2023 for celiac referrals

Patients who have two readings of tTG > 10 ULN (spaced by 1 month) are considered to meet non-biopsy diagnosis criteria for celiac disease with an accuracy of > 95% . Referred patients will be reviewed by our dietitians and teachings related to gluten free diet will take place.


Patients with tTG > 2 ULN and < 10 ULN should still go on to have upper endoscopy and biopsies. It is important these patients remain on a gluten containing diet. 


Patients with tTG readings < 2 ULN should should be followed with serial readings and should not implement a gluten free diet‎


NAPSGHAN Clinical Report on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gluten related Disorders - JPGN 2016


NASPGHAN - Diagnosis and Treatment of Celiac Disease in Children - Clinical Practice Guideline Summary - 




As fo 2023 - only patients with red flags along with their abdominal pain can be accepted for review

Canadian Pediatric Society - Managing functional Constipation in children - Reaffirmed 2014


Constipation - NASPGHAN Care Package

North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition - Evaluation and Treatment of Functional Constipation in Infants and Children: Evidence-Based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN - 2014


 



Our program

To see information related to our clinical activity, please see Link to GI clinic

We do take part in the RACE program where doctors can discuss individual cases over the phone and receive real time advice. http://www.raceconnect.ca/ 

Resources & Guidelines



Our Team


Physicians 

  • Vishal Avinashi, Division Head
  • Collin Barker
  • Alice Foster
  • Orlee Guttman, Program Director
  • Kevan Jacobson
  • Jocelyn Jeong 
  • Sally Lawrence
  • Sylvie Lebel
  • Andrea Martinez
  • Andy Skinn

Fellows


  • Hiba Binomar
  • Matthew Smyth
  • Aruna Sethuraman

Clerical staff

  • New Patient Booking Secretary
  • Follow up Patient Bookings / Clinic Secretary
  • Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service

Research

  • The majority of our members are involved with research. To see more information about GI research, visit our site on the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

Dietitians 

  • Soleina Karamali, Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service
  • Debbie Martins, Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service
  • Meagan Vurzinger, Outreach
  • Kirstin Wingate

Nursing

  • Deceree Biggs (Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service)
  • Tania Ferraro
  • Kaitlyn Kho
  • Dejia Herbert
  • Alex Oullette (Outreach)
  • Rhonda Retel
  • Jennifer Ruben
  • Jessie Ahuja, Transplant Nurse
  • Sarah Fay, Transplant Nurse
  • Gregory Georgio, Transplant Nurse
  • Marijana Kraljevic, Transplant Nurse

Social Work

  • Kathryn Urquhart, Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service

Occupational Therapy

  • Rochelle Stokes, Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service

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SOURCE: Gastroenterology ( )
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