granite peaks gi Archives - Granite Peaks Gastroenterology of Utah

Immunizations for People with Liver Disease

Posted on March 31, 2016May 4, 2017 by fuelmarketing

For patients with chronic liver disease, getting another acute disease such as hepatitis, influenza, or pneumococcal pneumonia may be more serious than for people without underlying liver disease. Therefore, immunization against these diseases is very important.

Patients with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, hemochromatosis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson’s disease, alpha one antitrypsin deficiency, or idiopathic cirrhosis should talk to their doctors about the following vaccinations:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A virus infection can vary in severity from a mild flu-like illness to severe liver inflammation and death. A person can become infected with Hepatitis A by consuming contaminated food or water or touching a contaminated surface. It is recommended that all patients with chronic liver disease be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. This is given as an injection followed by a booster dose 6-12 months after the first shot. The vaccine is well tolerated with minimal side effects. 95% of patients with liver disease who are vaccinated develop protective antibodies against Hepatitis A. There is no need to check post-immunization blood titers.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus can cause a chronic infection, which can lead to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. It is transmitted by contact with an infected individual’s body fluids. It is recommended that all people with chronic liver disease be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Three injections are given over 6 months. The vaccine is well tolerated with minimal side effects. The response to liver disease vaccinations is not as good as with the Hepatitis A vaccine. 94% of patients with fatty liver disease develop protective antibodies, however for other causes of chronic liver disease, the response is much lower. Therefore, some experts recommend testing for post-immunization Hepatitis B antibody titers in patients with chronic liver disease due to their risk of severe infection. If a patient has not responded to the vaccine, repeat liver disease immunizations with high-dose Hepatitis B vaccine may be considered.

Hepatitis C

There is currently no available Hepatitis C vaccine.

Pneumococcus

This is one of the most common causes of pneumonia. The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all adults with chronic liver disease regardless of age. This is a one-time injection. Immunization develops 2-3 weeks after the vaccination. This vaccine is well tolerated with minimal side effects.

Influenza

This is commonly known as the flu. It is recommended that persons with chronic liver disease receive a yearly, seasonal flu shot. It is well tolerated with side effects in fewer than 5% of people.

Other

There are no specific recommendations on the use of other vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, herpes zoster) in people with chronic liver disease. However, herpes zoster immunization is recommended in persons 60 and older. And a routine diphtheria/tetanus booster immunization is recommended every 10 years.

Please contact the doctors at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology to discuss your liver disease immunizations needs.

Announcing the Launch of Our New Online Home!

Posted on March 27, 2015October 12, 2016 by fuelmarketing

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new website! The fresh design was built to provide our current and potential patients with increased ease of use, sufficient location/condition information, and quick access to assistance from Granite Peaks GI (GPG) staff. Learn more about the new features below for Granite Peaks GI!

Patient Portal

Creating and logging into your personal Patient Portal account allows you to discuss your condition and procedure privately with your physician. You may also use this platform to request appointments, renew medications, and access your personal health record. The system provides a secure place for you to store information and discuss your needs. You can access Patient Portal by clicking the “Patient Login” tab located within the white text on the second row of the navigation.

Book an Appointment

Booking an appointment with a GPG professional is simple using the new website. Just click the “Book Appointment” tab in the top right corner of the screen. Here, you can click the “Book Online” button to begin the process of securely booking your appointment online. This page also provides contact, location, and physician information.

Resources

Required forms for your office visit can be found on the Resources page. You can access this page by clicking the “Resources” tab located within the white text on the second row of the navigation. This will allow you to review, download, and print each form you will need for your first visit with GPG.

Provider Information

If you’d like to learn more about the providers at GPG, click the “Providers” tab to find a full page of bios. Information regarding each physician can be found by clicking on their image located on this page.

Procedure and Service Information

Whether you’re new to our facility or a returning patient, it’s likely that you’ll have questions regarding your care. Although our physicians and staff will be available to answer any and all questions you may have, our procedure and service information pages are a great place to find quick answers. You can find informative pages in the white text on the second row of the navigation as well. These will be located under the “GI Conditions” and “Services” tabs.

Questions?

Should you run into any questions while using the new website, our team will be happy to help you find your way! For site assistance, facility information, over-the-phone booking, or general questions regarding your care, please feel free to give our offices a call at 801-619-9000. You may also visit our contact page to request information.

Welcome to Granite Peaks GI Blog!

Posted on November 12, 2012June 14, 2017 by fuelmarketing

For specialized problems, trust specialized care.

For cardiac concerns, you trust a cardiologist. For a broken bone, you see an orthopedic surgeon. Similarly, your GI concerns and digestive tract health are best-entrusted to a Granite Peaks GI specialist. Unlike doctors from other specialties who perform GI procedures without true specialty training, gastroenterologists train for years on endoscopy and the problems being evaluated. With colonoscopy, for example, research shows that gastroenterologists are more likely to evaluate the entire colon for colon disease and detect what’s wrong, and their patients experience fewer complications.

Compassionate care & impeccable service.

We believe caring is essential in healthcare, and it shows. We give you the personal care and attentive service we expect for ourselves and our loved ones. We provide a comfortable environment and make sure you’re seen by one of our physicians each time you’re here. We’re also accustomed and sensitive to patients who are nervous or upset. And we take pride in treating everyone with the kindness, honesty and respect they deserve.

An approach that’s focused on relief & resolution, not procedures.

A complex system, the gastrointestinal tract can be affected by a number of disorders. And they are often subtle and difficult to understand. So we focus not on a particular procedure or treatment but on understanding and resolving your unique problem. This starts by listening to you carefully and investigating things thoroughly. While we do perform procedures, we look for the treatment that’s best for you, not for us. Because one-of-a-kind problems don’t benefit from one-size-fits-all care.

To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, please call our office at (801) 619-9000 or use our online Request an Appointment form.