J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 5
learned along the way.
We started slowly, in
2015, concentrating
primarily on a couple
of diagnostic proce-
dures for people with
chronic heartburn —
mostly manometry
and Bravo (a proce-
dure in which a small
capsule is attached to
the wall of the esopha-
gus to measure acid
levels). Then, in 2016,
we launched it on a
larger scale, and our
numbers quickly began to go through the roof.
The big launch followed an ad we put on the front page of our local
newspaper. The key words in the ad: heartburn and PPI (proton pump
inhibitors). Now, we hold the seminars twice a year. It's great for us if
the attendees decide to come in for consultations — and I'd estimate
that between 10% and 20% do.
Personalized programs
For those who decide to have consultations, we offer a patient path-
way: a personalized program for each patient. We start with a brief
interview, maybe 5 or 10 minutes, to collect information about symp-
toms and what kinds of measures and medications they've tried. We
also make sure we get their records from other facilities, even if they
go back 5 or 10 years.
• NOT FEELING THE BURN TIF can be done as an outpatient procedure, and usual-
ly within a few weeks, reflux patients are able to enjoy the foods they love but
couldn't eat before.
Brendan
Abbazio