Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disease, meaning it causes inflammation in the digestive tract, which can spread to the deep layers of the bowel. Crohn’s disease can cause painful symptoms that interfere with daily life, and it can lead to potentially life-threatening complications for some people. Fortunately, there is treatment available for Crohn’s, which can make symptoms more manageable and heal inflammation in the digestive tract.

Symptoms of Crohn’s can vary from person-to-person, and people may have periods with no symptoms. Oftentimes, symptoms come on gradually, but they can appear suddenly in some cases. There are multiple symptoms of Crohn’s, but some common ones include stomach pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.

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What Our Patients Are Saying

Excellent!
Efficient check in process, caring staff, and Dr Walling was very thorough with my patient assessment.
Saw Dr. Plaehn - on time, professional, friendly. He explained everything clearly and answered all questions
I was in for my follow up to my colonoscopy. The staff were friendly and very helpful. I met with Kaddah (sp?) and she explained all my test results completely and so I could easily understand them. She even talked with me for a few minutes on what I could do to help myself and my conditions. Very informative and very pleasant. Thank you very much.
Efficiently run with all staff being extremely friendly.
Khadra was very thorough and pleasant during my evaluation. She was also very knowledgeable and offered information to me that was extremely helpful.
Very short wait time, both initially and in exam room. All people were extremely thoughtful and professional.
My appointment with Dr. Laird was very pleasant and informative. He was cordial, thorough and highly professional, taking notes of our discussions and offering excellent care options. As always, I was greeted with a smile and my wait time was minimal. Overall, a very good experience.
First time meeting Khadra and I was very grateful for her helpful knowledge about everything and for her kindness.
Dr. Lee-Allen was excellent. She took the time to ask and answer questions, talk about options, and give guidance. I felt cared for and I left feeling comfortable with my decisions.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, click their image or visit our providers page.

Lucas Julien, MD

Razvan Opreanu, MD

Scott Plaehn, DO, FACOI

Albert Ross, MD

John Walling, Jr., DO, FACOI

Siaka Yusuf, MD

Dorian Jones, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?
If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.
What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?
An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If an Digestive Health Institute physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.
How do I get test results?
We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised. You may call 517-332-1200 and press “8″ and your call will be directed to the triage nurse.
What insurances do you accept?
Digestive Health Institute accepts payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 517-332-1200 #6.

What if I need to contact the doctor?
To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 517-332-1200. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours please call our answering service at 517-483-9124 and the doctor on call will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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