Dr. Ricky Johnston from Gastroenterology Associates of Columbus joins Troy to discuss how his office is handling colonoscopies and other tests at a time when doctors have been asked not to perform any elective procedures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Troy thompson: welcome to on the beat, everyone.
I'm troy thompson.
Joining me today to have a discussion is of course dr. ricky johnston from gastroenterology associates.
How are you, my friend?
Dr. johnston: doing well, troy.
How about you?
Troy thompson: we are fantastic as everyone can see, at home.
We're in our homes doing this interview.
Before we get into our questions, i wanted to ask you, how are you dealing with everything and your family at this time?
Dr. johnston: we're dealing, i think was with everybody else, they're finding that there's some struggles and also some rewards.
Having the kids at home without school or family help or babysitters has been challenging, particularly for my wife.
God bless her, she's doing god's work.
But it's been challenging but it's also been rewarding.
Being able to work from home, i've gotten to spend more time with my kids during the day, particularly our eight-month-old.
While there's challenges, there's definitely rewards and we're just trying to make the best of the situation.
Troy thompson: of course.
Now, look, what do you think of the covid- 19 situation, and what effects do you think it's having on your patients' digestive health?
Dr. johnston: fortunately, i don't think it's having any long- term effects on people's digestive health.
Now, there are a few gi symptoms that people may develop to go along with the other typically seen symptoms. there's nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, potentially abdominal pain, so really nonspecific symptoms that may accompany the other ones.
There's also the loss of taste and smell that are really commonly reported, but i think more importantly is to focus on shortness of breath, fever, cough, and maybe the smell and loss taste rather than focusing on gi symptoms as a presenting issue.
While those may be they're there, it's probably 10 or 20, 30% of the affected patients who develop that.
Troy thompson: one thing you and i always talk about when we do these interviews is screenings and colonoscopies and how important it is.
What are you saying to everyone now that if they're putting off their colonoscopies?
Should they be coming in for some form of screening, and is that possible?
Dr. johnston: well, we've been directed by the state for the time being not to perform any elective procedures.
Thankfully, the regulations on telemedicine have gotten relieved, so i've been spending a lot of time in my chair doing telemedicine visits.
What we're doing is we're seeing patients via tele, setting up screening, but we're scheduling those out four to six weeks, hoping that by that time we're going to be able to go forward.
Certainly, we don't want to put off screening any longer than we have to.
Right before the pandemic hit, i mean, we found three or four cancers in a week.
So certainly by not doing our procedures, we're missing opportunity to diagnose some of these cancers at an early stage.
So there is some angst with that, but in general, we're having to push out the screening tests for right now.
Dr. johnston: now, if anybody's having symptoms, if there's any kind of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rectal bleeding, anything that's a severe symptoms, uncontrolled gerd, just trouble swallowing, things that are particularly bothersome, then they should go ahead and call the office.
We can see them via telemedicine and then at that time we can make a decision, is this urgent, does it need to be done now, because we can do urgent procedures, or is this something that's less urgent and maybe we can wait a month or two.
But the best way to know is to call.
Don't be scared to call.
I mean, we're still up and running and seeing patients.
Troy thompson: wonderful.
I'm glad you said that, but i also want you to put everyone's mind at ease.
How safe is it for them to be coming in to have their screening and what are you doing about that for their safety?
Dr. johnston: we are taking every precaution that we can.
We are allowing only the patients into come into the building, whereas they used to be accompanied by a family member.
We're screening our employees and patients before they come in with a list of questions about exposure, fever, et cetera.
We're checking temperatures.
All of our staff are wearing masks during the procedures.
We're being very diligent about hand- washing.
We're allowing the patients will wear their masks until the time of their procedure.
If we're doing an upper endoscopy, we have to remove it for that.
But we're taking all the necessary precautions and i think we'll make sure that everyone's safe.
Troy thompson: well, dr. ricky, you always give great information.
I want you and your family to stay well.
I know all our viewers at home also appreciate the information that you give.
We appreciate you.
Dr. johnston: thank you, troy.
I appreciate it.
Troy thompson: if you want to learn more information about dr. ricky johnston, there at all is up on the screen for you.
Gastroenterology associates of columbus.
If you have any thoughts or concerns, give them a call.
They will help you talk your way through it.
Back after this break.
Dr. Ricky Johnston from Gastroenterology Associates joins us today to talk about how the Coronavirus is effecting the GI tract.