The Gastroenterology (GI) service, which includes the GI clinic, is a team of health professionals who help patients with problems of the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, bowels, liver, pancreas, or nutrition.
How we help
Examples of conditions that we treat are Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, functional abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, liver diseases, intestinal failure, chronic pancreatitis, failure to thrive, and constipation.
Our patients come from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and sometimes Newfoundland and Labrador. We accept new referrals from family physicians, pediatricians, or nurse practitioners for patients who are less than 16 years old.
The GI clinic uses a multidisciplinary team approach. This means that there are many different health professionals who help with the care of our patients, including physicians, registered nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, booking clerks, and research and administrative staff. The GI clinic works closely with the Pediatric Health Psychology Team and the Feeding Team.
Our patients could be an outpatient, which means they will be seen in clinic, or inpatient, which means the GI team will help care for them when they are admitted to the hospital. We also do outreach travelling clinics in Saint John, NB, Moncton NB, Summerside, PEI, and Sydney, NS. This enables some patients to be seen closer to their homes.
What to expect
Patients may receive an appointment at the GI clinic if their family physician, pediatrician, or nurse practitioner makes a referral. They may also be given an appointment if they developed a problem with their GI system or nutrition and were seen by a gastroenterologist (GI physician) while they were admitted to the IWK Health Center.
When an appointment has been booked, you will receive a letter in the mail confirming the date and time of your child’s appointment, what to bring to the appointment, and how to prepare. Be sure to read and follow all the instructions in the letter. It’s helpful to write down any questions you may have for the GI team.
The GI clinic is located on the 2nd floor (main floor) of the IWK’s Children’s Building. It is inside the Medical Day Unit, (MDU) which is past the blue elevators. When you arrive you will need to take a number and sit in the waiting area. The registration clerk will call you to the desk using your number and will confirm that your child’s information is up to date. You will return to the waiting area until a member of the GI team calls your child’s name. Sometimes there can be long waits during the clinic visits. Please bring activities and snacks your child, and plan to be at the clinic for 1-2 hours.
When your child’s name is called, a member of the GI team will greet you. Your child will have their weight and height measured. Sometimes we will check your child’s blood pressure and temperature. You’ll then be brought to a clinic examination room. A member of the GI team will ask about the patient’s medications. You will see the GI physician, who will ask more questions and examine your child. You may also see other members of the GI team while you are in clinic including the nurse, social worker, dietitian and research staff. After your clinic visit you can return home.
Between visits to the clinic, support is available by phone from GI team members, from your family physician or pediatrician, or from your nearest Emergency Department if your child is very unwell. The GI Clinic is not a walk-in clinic, so all questions are dealt with either by scheduled appointment or by phone.
After discussion and with your input, the GI team will develop a care plan for your child. This might include blood work or other tests and treatments such as medication, diet changes, and referrals to other health professionals.
Some of the tests the GI clinic commonly uses include ultrasound, MR enterography (special type of MRI), and Endoscopy—or scope.
Who you’ll meet
Administrative Assistants
We have two GI administrative assistants who help our clinic run smoothly.
Biologic Coordinator
The GI Team has a coordinator who helps in the care of patients receiving treatments with a biologic agent (special type of medication).
Booking Clerks
One of our clerks books clinic appointments and coordinates booking of special tests such as ultrasound and MRE; the other books endoscopy (gastroscopy, colonoscopy) and OR procedures such as liver biopsies.
Dietitians
There are two GI dietitians who have special knowledge in managing the nutrition of patients with GI conditions. They manage patients who need special nutrition by asking questions about their diet and overall health and provide teaching to patients.
Health Care Learners
IWK Health is a teaching hospital, affiliated with Dalhousie University and local universities. There are often trainees who are learning to take part in the care of our patients. These include medical students, residents (physicians who are taking training to become specialists), nursing, social work, dietetic and pharmacy students.
Nurse Coordinators
There are two GI registered nurses who have special knowledge in managing patients with GI conditions. They help assess your child in clinic by measuring their height and weight; ask questions to learn about your child’s health and help the rest of the GI team develop a care plan for your child. They teach families about medications and treatments and help ensure that each child’s care plan is followed.
Pharmacists
There are two GI Pharmacists on our team who provide education and support to meet medication related needs of patients and families. They work with other members of the health care team to provide safe and cost-effective drug therapy.
Physicians
There are four GI physicians who specialize in the care and treatment of pediatric patients with GI conditions.
Research Staff
The GI clinic is involved in many research studies and has several research staff members. You may meet some of our research staff in the GI clinic. They may discuss potential research opportunities for you and/or your child. You can choose not to be involved in a study, and this will not impact your child’s care.
Registration Clerk
The registration clerk registers your child when they arrive for your appointment at the GI clinic. They also keep their health information updated in our computer system.
Social Worker
The GI team has a social worker who helps support our patients and families. The individual helps them learn how to cope with the mental, emotional, financial, and other challenges of living with a GI condition and also coordinate the care of patients and families with unique needs. This would include patients who need special approval for medications or when patients need to travel to another hospital for treatment.
Accessing this Clinic, Program or Service
Children’s Building - IWK Health Centre
The GI clinic is located on the 2nd floor (main floor) of the Children’s Building in the IWK. It is inside the Medical Day Unit, which is just past the blue elevators.
If you are entering the IWK from the parkade on University Avenue, you will come into the Gallery area, which includes Tim Horton’s and the Biggs & Littles Gift Shop. Partway down the Gallery, go down the hallway next to the information desk, which leads toward the green elevators. Turn left after the green elevators and follow the “blue wave” hallway to the intersection next to the blue elevators. Turn right and go down the hallway. You'll see a sign on the ceiling that says “Medical Day Unit”. This is the entrance to the GI clinic, a space which is shared with many other clinics.