Spring Screenings
Get your screenings this Spring before the Summer weather arrives!
Procedures such as colonoscopies or EGDs can be used to help diagnose and treat conditions that can greatly affect your health and quality of life.
Regular screenings can save lives, especially in cases of esophageal and colorectal cancer, which have the best outcomes when caught early. They can also aid in the diagnosis of conditions that can affect your everyday life such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
With rigorous COVID safety precautions in place, you can safely get all your screenings at one of our several trusted surgical centers.
Provider Spotlight
Alyssa Dunn, P.A.-C
Though fairly new to our practice, Physician Assistant Alyssa Dunn is a great addition to our team!
Graduating from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine with a degree in Biology in 2011, Alyssa went on to earn her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2015 from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
She has a special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
In her free time, Alyssa enjoys sports, baking, and DIY projects. While she is a Maine native, she has lived in New Hampshire since 2015 and resides in Deerfield with her husband and their daughter.
Interview with Alyssa Dunn, P.A. -C
How long have you been practicing medicine and what made you choose the profession?
What led you to choose gastroenterology as your specialty?
What is something you wish all patients knew about their digestive health?
What are the most important preventative screenings in your specialty?
Routine colonoscopy screenings for colon cancer and routine colonoscopy screenings! Have I mentioned routine colonoscopy screenings?
How do you stay up to date on the latest in medical news and technology?
Outside of gastroenterology, what are your hobbies and interests?
What is your favorite part of working with the team at Granite State Gastro?
Endoscopic Procedures: Safety During COVID
Patients do not have to delay their surgery due to COVID. Our preferred facilities have gone the extra mile in putting strict precautions in place to keep patients healthy and safe before, during, and after their procedures. Patients that need an upper endoscopy (EGD) should not put off their procedure due to COVID.
EGDs can be a crucial part of the diagnosis and treatment of several gastrointestinal conditions. They can identify problems with the digestive tract such as GERD, ulcers, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and infections.
This outpatient procedure can be done safely in our preferred surgical centers and allow us to properly diagnose and treat many common gastrointestinal conditions that greatly affect the health of our patients.
Talk to your doctor about scheduling your endoscopy at one of our trusted surgical centers.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
The condition ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that results in inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract. Affecting the lining of the large intestine, symptoms of this condition often develop over time. This condition can worsen if not treated as well as lead to life-threatening complications.
Getting treatment for ulcerative colitis can help manage the condition, reduce symptoms, and result in long-term remission. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis can include diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, fever, fatigue, weight loss, rectal pain, rectal bleeding, and issues with defecation.
It’s important to be proactive when it comes to seeking treatment for ulcerative colitis, even if you are only experiencing mild symptoms.
While the exact cause of the condition remains unknown, it is often linked to the immune system. Heredity may also play a role in the development of the condition.
You should talk to your doctor about ulcerative colitis if you notice any persistent changes in bowel habits.
Secure Online Support
Our practice is now using Klara, an all-in-one platform that allows patients to connect with our staff to schedule appointments at their own convenience. It also provides reminders and follow-up text notifications so they never miss an in-office or online appointment due to lack of notification or follow-up.
Patients can connect with their doctors safely using a secure messaging and video platform that does not require a download, login, or app. The platform is very user-friendly and allows them to connect directly with our practice at their own convenience and provides a better and easier way to communicate with our staff.
Visit our website and use Klara to book an appointment today! Patients can find the application on our website. Simply click the chat button in the bottom right-hand corner to start using Klara!