MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center is bringing the clinical might of an academic institution for GI-related cancers combined with the accessibility and compassion of a community hospital, including its supportive and caring team, to Orange County.
Orange Coast Medical Center specialists are using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) technology in a variety of applications to help diagnose and identify cancerous (esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, biliary, and rectal) and non-cancerous gastrointestinal conditions. In addition, the team can evaluate internal organ diseases, locate common bile duct stones, and evaluate lesions in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract or in enlarged stomach folds.
“The EUS system provides a less invasive and more reliable diagnosis because of its unique ability to deliver outstanding image quality that facilitates easy identification and more accurate staging of GI tumors,” says Jose Luis Aranez, M.D., a board-certified interventional gastroenterologist at Orange Coast Medical Center.
EUS combines ultrasound technology with endoscopy for better visualization and is an ideal minimally invasive alternative to exploratory surgery. Additional advanced endoscopic procedures offered include endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and ablation, a procedure that removes pre-cancerous, early-stage cancer, or other abnormal tissues from the digestive tract, and balloon-assisted enteroscopy, an incisionless procedure performed to reach and treat less-accessible colon polyps or areas of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Health care can be challenging to navigate, but especially if a patient has a complex condition. This is where Xuan Tram, RN, one of the nurse navigators, comes in. From diagnosis to treatment, through recovery and beyond, Tram is each patient’s scheduler, confidant, support system and cheerleader.
“I love helping my patients on their journey,” says Tram. “Being diagnosed with a disease is overwhelming enough. If I can help take away one concern, or one worry and let them focus on their recovery – that is what I love. I want to be the helping hand to get them the support and resources they need.”
With this expansion, Orange County residents now have access to advanced endoscopic services close to home, and with a personal touch. Call (714) 378-7664 to learn more.